20 May 2005
The number of people taking to the Internet for shopping purposes is continuing to soar, new data has revealed.
According to the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), Internet retail transactions rose by an astonishing 29.3 per cent during April, a figure which represents the fastest year-on-year rate of increase for seven months.
Approximately 22 million consumers used the Internet to make purchases last month, helping total e-retail value in the UK reach £1.4 billion.
The figures reveal that seven per cent of all retail took place online in April and while high street trading fell by 1.3 per cent during the last quarter, e-retail's growth rate tripled.
"This astonishing data shows e-retail's resilience in tough trading conditions. It also signals that we are finally seeing the end of rip-off Britain," said IMRG's CEO, James Roper.
"UK consumers know that many high street retailers have for years enjoyed very high profit margins while providing mediocre service, and they still have the impression that they are being ripped-off by cartels using cynical price fixing methods.
"Legislation has struggled to restrain unscrupulous business managers, but the Internet is trouncing them by exposing their scams and enabling consumers to quickly and easily compare offers."
Mr Roper continued: "Consumers can't be fooled anymore. They are voting with their keyboards for the convenience of shopping online with brands they trust and which consistently give good value and service."
E-retail sales have increased by 1,500 per cent since April 2000 during which time £42 billion worth of goods have been bought online by British shoppers.
IMRG forecasts online shopping will have expanded by a further 320 per cent by April 2010, which will represent almost 20 per cent of all UK retail.© DeHavilland Information Services plc
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