August online sales growth rebounds
By Retail Technology | Monday September 16 2013
Following a comparatively disappointing July, the latest UK e-commerce sales benchmark has found sales doubled as Index returns to double-digit growth
The latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index figures published today show the UK online market returned to double digit growth in August, with online sales up 18% year-on-year; double that of the growth rate in July (9% year-on-year).
This accelerated growth was led by a return to double-digit growth for multichannel retailers of 17%, following a poor July when hot weather saw store footfall slacken. Even so, sales for online-only retailers outstripped multichannel rivals, increasing by 19%.
Split out by sector, home & garden led the way in August with 25% year-on-year growth, followed by electricals at 18%. Clothing meanwhile grew 18% year-on-year compared to 10% in July, with the average basket value increasing by £5 year-on-year as heavy discounting used by retailers earlier in the year has been scaled back.
Positive signs in run up to Christmas
Chris Webster, vice president and head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini, commented: “After a slow July, August has seen a return to the levels of growth we have come to expect from online retail and has, in fact, exceeded our year-on-year growth predictions by 3% points.”
Tina Spooner, chief information officer at IMRG added that the Index is expected maintain double-digit growth during the fourth quarter as retailers gear up for the lucrative festive trading period. And, year-to-date, the Index has recorded 15% growth compared with the same period in 2012, with m-commerce growth also up 133% year-on-year.
“It is evident from the strong performance in the electricals and home & garden sectors that consumers were investing in their homes and gardens during August,” Spooner added.
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