Online retail sales in June fell by the sharpest rate since 2008 as buoyant sunshine kept shoppers away from their computers.
There was a five per cent month-on-month online sales decline from May to June as big tickets items such as furniture, appliances and hi-def television sets sold weakly, according to latest stats from IMRG/Capgemini.
It was the lowest annual online sales growth for a year in June but the first half of the year surged by 16 per cent.
The travel sector inched up 3 per cent year-on-year while electricals rose 7 per cent. The biggest rise was seen in the beers, wines and spirits sector which surged 20 per cent YoY last month. IMRG said last months 17 per cent growth was the steepest jump it had ever seen between the months in the sector.
Tina Spooner, chief information officer at IMRG, commented: “During the week England were knocked out we saw a distinct 15 per cent drop in alcohol sales as fans were denied the chance to raise a glass to a repeat of 1966.
“Britons were not too interested in buying new technology to watch the action, whilst higher than average temperatures and lots of sunshine kept customers outdoors”.
Despite the turbulent figures, conversion rates rose to 4.8 per cent – its highest rate for June since 2008. Average basket value rose five per cent to £83 as more consumers did the weekly food shop online.
The IMRG Capgemini Index was started in April 100 and tracks online sales from over one hundred retailer including Asos.com, M and M Direct and Naked Wines.
