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10% of retail sales are online in the UK

OUT-LAW News, 24/05/2006

Amazon.co.uk, Dell and Argos are the UK's most popular online stores, according to new figures from the e-commerce trade body. The figures also show that £30 billion of retail spending is now online.

A further £20 billion of other consumer spending is online and £30 billion of off-line retail sales are impacted by internet information, research or stimuli. A total of 10% of retail sales now take place online and online retail sales have grown at an average year-on-year rate of 45% for the past six months or 2,000% in six years.

The full list of the 50 most popular online retailers – ranked by visits – is reproduced below.

IMRG collects its sales data each month from a large pool of e-retailers whose sales represent a quarter of the UK market by value.

Almost 4,000 consumers responded to an IMRG survey this month. The results suggest that 52% will reduce their High Street spending in 2006 while 45% will increase their spending online.

All respondents said they research home appliances online prior to purchasing them on the High Street. For consumer electronics it was 94%, furniture 52%, garden and DIY goods 49% and travel 44%.

All of the respondents said they research and then purchase music online, 81% did so for books, 70% for travel, 55% for computer equipment and 45% for videos and DVDs.

IMRG published its IMRG-HITWISE: HOT SHOPS LIST today. It ranks by popularity, as indicated by visits, the top 50 UK online retailers selling goods and services in April 2006.