Shoppers spent 10.1% more online with UK retailers last month compared to the same time last year, official figures showed today.
The Office for National Statistics’ Retail Sales Index for September estimated that online customers spent an average of £731.8m a week last month, equivalent to 11.4% of all retail spending, excluding automotive fuel. Total retail spending, however, fell by 0.6% on the previous month but increased by 1.3% on the previous year, to an estimated £6.9bn a week.
The food sector saw relatively fast growth in online spending, up by 13.4%. However, online sales in the sector still account for just 3.9% of overall spending. Non-food spending grew relatively slowly, at 4.5%. Department store spending made its lowest year-on-year gain since November 2010, as it grew by 7% to account for 10.1% of total retail sales in the sector.
Internet spending on textile, clothing and footwear grew by 10.4%, to account for 12.4% of total retail sales in the sector.
