UK: Online sales soar

Online retailers enjoyed a bumper Christmas, with sales rising by around 50% on the previous year, research showed today.

Shoppers spent a total of nearly £5bn (€7.3bn) on internet goods in the 10 weeks to Christmas as they shunned the high street in favour of ordering from the comfort of their armchairs.

The figures from industry body the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) came after a clutch of retailers – including big names like HMV and Waterstone’s - complained about the impact of online sales on their business.