Online sales reported by
IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index rose 11.3% to £4.8bn in
July, almost £80 per person in the UK.
This is in sharp contrast to high street sales, which the
British Retail Consortium reported were down 0.9%.
Hot items for online shoppers were travel and clothing, footwear
and accessories, which grew 22.8%. IMRG said the electrical sector,
which has had a tough year to date, was lifted 7.5% by demand for
the new Apple iPhone 3G and flat screen televisions ahead of the
Olympics.
IMRG managing director Jo Evans said hard-hit UK shoppers are
using the web to hunt for bargains, compare prices and ensure they
get the best deals.