Latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index has confirmed a solid performance for online shopping in the first half of 2012.
British shoppers have spent £34.9 billion on Internet shopping in the first six months of 2012, according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. Internet sales increased by £3.9 billion, up from £31 billion in the first six months of 2011.
Online shoppers spent an estimated £6 billion – an average of £117 per person – in the month of June. This equated to a 13 per cent increase on June 2011. Growth patterns in June were largely influenced by two factors – heavy rain and the European Football Championships. The bad weather encouraged many to stay indoors and carrying out competitior price monitoring online; shoppers feel they are getting the best deal by using such retail pricing intelligence.
The electrical sector reported a year-on-year growth of 35 per cent and 9 per cent on May. The football championships helped with the increased sales of televisions with many consumers investing in home entertainment products.
Clothing recorded a 4 per cent increase on June 2011. Sales of accessories climbed 47% year-on-year. Sales of gifts rose 43 per cent from June last year; month-on-month growth of 18 per cent was driven by Father’s Day purchases. Year-on-year growth of 17 per cent for pure-play online retailers in June; this compared to 11 per cent growth for multichannel retailers. mCommerce soared 356 per cent year-on -year.
Even though the industry has to endure challenging trading conditions caused by the weather, continued negative economic news and consumers paying down credit, the Index still managed to record double-digit growth for H1 2012, said Andrew McClelland, IMRG’s chief operations & policy, “highlighting the value that consumers place in the strong retail proposition that online is able to provide”. The market is on a strong footing to push ahead in H2, with the anticipation of “a boom in online shopping” with many people having the option of working from home during the Olympics and being in to receive deliveries, added McClelland.
© Profitero 2012
Other Profitero stories on IMRG Capgemini findings:
Double-Digit Growth For UK eTailing In April – IMRG CapGemini
UK Online Sales Up 16% Year-On-Year – IMRG CapGemini
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