Record high for ecommerce website sales in December

UK ecommerce websites had a particularly successful month in December, new statistics have suggested.

According to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, shoppers spent £5.46 billion online last month, causing the index to reach a record high of 7,099 points.

Sales soared by 17 per cent on an annual basis, higher than the year-on-year growth seen in December 2008, when they rose by 14 per cent.

The most popular ecommerce website segments included accessories, gifts and electricals as consumers turned to the web to purchase festive gifts and escape the cold to peruse internet sales.

In 2010, it is likely online transactions will see growth of 13 per cent, according to IMRG.

E-retail improvements such as "wider product range availability, even better websites and a greater choice of convenient and more reliable delivery options" will drive this increase, James Roper of IMRG told Reuters.

Sales rose by 24 per cent month-on-month and 11 per cent year-on-year in November, the previous month's index showed.

This news story was brought to you by Bluhalo, a leading UK digital agency.