Online sales have grown 16.6% since last year, figures from the
British Retail Consortium showed today.
Sales fell in the days after the recent banking crisis, as
consumers became anxious about their finances, but overall growth
for the year was significant.
The strong growth in online sales did not stop retailers having
their worst month in October for three years, with overall sales
falling 2.2% on a like-for-like basis compared to October 2007.
Online sales account for 4% of overall sales, and are included
in the final figure.
Sharon Hardiman, head of non-store retailing at the BRC, said,
"The internet relates to a relatively small, though rapidly growing
part of overall sales.
"Growth here reflects the increasing importance of the
multi-channel arms of
existing in-store retailers."