U.K. e-retail sales up 15%, boosted by good weather

An estimated 4.5 billion was spent online in the month, compared to 3.9 billion in 2009.

As winter relinquished its grip and in preparation for an early Easter, shoppers started to spruce up their homes and gardens in time for spring, with 42% more spent online in this sector in March. Brighter skies also encouraged consumers to invest in summer wardrobes, with sales of clothing growing by 27% compared to February this year.

Tina Spooner, Director of Information at IMRG added: The 15% yearly growth in online sales is very positive and is evidence that e-retail continues to outperform the high street. The strength of the multichannel approach within e-retail is also reflected in the March Index results. There is a strong trend emerging showing that high street retailers with an online presence are playing an increasingly significant role in the e-retail sector. Retailers with a diverse multichannel offering will no doubt continue to reap the rewards of their investment in the online space.

Chris Webster, Vice President, Retail Consulting and Technology, Capgemini, said: These are solid figures, and prove the continued resilience of online retail. The retailers themselves, particularly those with both an online and a store presence, have fought hard to attract and retain customers, even in a period of political uncertainty. As the weather starts to improve, this is having an impact on sales of garden furniture as people plan for summer barbeques.