Online retail sales hit three-year high

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Online monthly retail sales hit £5 billion in July, the highest in three years, as unseasonally high rainfall levels saw more consumers than usual staying indoors and doing their shopping online.

According to figures published by IMRG and Capgemini, July's internet sales were a full 18 per cent up on the same month last year, with the average Brit spending upwards of £81 online during the month. The impressive year-on-year increase is also the highest since 2007.

The e-Retail Sales Index, which tracks online sales at more than 100 retailers across the UK, showed travel sales in particular performing well, up by a third compared to a year ago as Brits headed for sunnier skies to escape the poor weather.

Alcohol sales, however, were down – no doubt it would have been a different story had England progressed further in the World Cup in South Africa.

“Although online retail sales survived the recession more convincingly than High Street sales, the last two years or so have no doubt been shaky at times," Chris Webster, head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini, told the BBC.

“It is really encouraging to see growth levels returning to those seen pre-2007 and before consumer confidence was knocked by the financial crisis and the recession.”

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