Autumn 2009

The growth rate in online retail sales was back in double digits for most of the summer, following the recession-induced dip to 8 per cent in May. But September's growth slipped again below May's to 7.5 per cent, according to the IMRG/Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. Sales were worth £3.9 billion in total – up just under 2 per cent on August's figure.

The two organisations speculate that shoppers may still be wary of overspending, especially with Christmas looming, and could also have been deterred by the impending postal dispute. They add that September's good weather may have tempted shoppers away from their computers.

Capgemini still regards the slowdown as a blip, and expects a return to 15 per cent growth year on year.

In a separate study, Key Note predicts that the value of the internet grocery market will more than double by 2013 from its size in 2008, and says some leading suppliers think online sales could eventually account for up to 20 per cent of the overall grocery market. It says that even during the recession, 64.8 per cent of online shoppers reported no change in the amount they usually spent.