Some Good News for Online Retail

As we nervously await Darling's 2009 budget announcements following headlines that the recession is more deepened than initially predicted, there is some good news for e-tailers according to IMRG's Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index published yesterday.

Market figures show that consumers are still heading online to beat the credit crunch and get the best possible value for money as the latest report shows:-
- Online sales up by 19% compared to March last year
- Month-on-month sales rise by 9% as online shoppers defy the recession
- Sales of gifts rise by 18% as families splash out for Mother%u219s Day

Despite these encouraging figures, it has been noted that this growth is slower than previous years, although given the current status of the economy, ecommerce is still proving to show resilience whilst other industries struggle.

Mike Petevinos, Head of Consulting for Retail for Capgemini UK, said: Online is proving to be a key battle ground for the retail sector during these tough times. Retailers that have developed their online offering have been able to reap the benefits of growing trade online and have also increased their influence over high street trading, as consumers turn to the internet to support their purchase decisions. The clothing, footwear and accessories sector continues to be a strong performer with 26% year on year growth. This reflects the improved quality of the offering e-retailers are providing for this segment.

You can view further information and sector splits of March's retail sales index ot the IMRG website at www.imrg.org