Wet summer lifts online sales

The summer's wet weather has sent online clothing sales soaring by 23 per cent.

Sales of electrical items online during July were the highest of any month this year, up 7.5 per cent on last month, according to Interactive Media in Retail Group and Capgemini (IMRG).

UK shoppers spent more than £4.8 billion online in July, an increase of 11.3 per cent on June, despite pressures on disposable income.

The growth is in sharp contrast with British Retail Consortium figures showing high street sales in July were 0.9 per cent down on June.

The poor weather affected barbecue-related alcohol sales, which saw slower year-on-year growth, but shoppers turned to clothing, footwear and accessories, which grew by 22.8 per cent in July.

The electrical sector was probably boosted by demand for the new Apple iPhone 3G and sales of flat screen televisions ahead of the Olympics, the report said.

Mike Petevinos, head of retail consulting at Capgemini UK, said: "Gloomy market conditions have not dampened consumers' appetite for shopping online.

"Online sales continue to show strong growth, particularly when compared to the tough trading conditions on the high street. The increase in clothing and footwear sales demonstrates consumers' ever increasing familiarity with e-retailing, extending their shopping behaviour into more and more categories.

"Even the electrical sector, which is highly susceptible to falling consumer confidence, is seeing good growth driven by the increased choice, price transparency and convenience that online has to offer."

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