Online retail sales up 28% year-on-year

The index, which tracks completed online sales in the UK, found that online sales increased 28.3%, with the growth in online clothing sales positive for the first time since lockdown at 0.6%.

However, July’s online sales were 10% down on June’s figures, and the fall in online purchases has coincided with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions and the reopening of high streets.

Sales in gardening rose 96.9%, with health and beauty increasing 38.3% and electrical sales up 62.5%. Multichannel retailers outperformed their online-only counterparts with growth of 45% versus 8.4%.

Lucy Gibbs, managing consultant – retail insight at Capgemini, said: “The increased options for purchasing and opening up of social and leisure activities has triggered a shift in spending patterns among consumers.

“As we navigate the next few months it is crucial that retailers are able to continue to enhance the experience both online and in store to meet changing need and emerging challenges that are facing the retail landscape.”

Andy Mulcahy, strategy and insight director at IMRG, said: “The difficulties some business sectors are having in coming out of lockdown may mean online retail growth remains very high over a longer period.”