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Department stores benefit from online shopping boom Department stores benefit from online shopping boom
(about 4 hours later)
Shoppers continued their insatiable appetite for online shopping, spending 12.8% more on the internet last year than a year earlier, new research suggests. Shoppers continued their insatiable appetite for online shopping, spending 12.8% more on the internet last year than a year earlier, research suggests.
Barclaycard, which processes one third of all card transactions, said that nearly one-fifth of all retail transactions were made online.Barclaycard, which processes one third of all card transactions, said that nearly one-fifth of all retail transactions were made online.
The biggest growth areas for online shopping include department stores, up 37% online – John Lewis had its best web year on record, and benefited from negative publicity over Amazon's tax affairs.The biggest growth areas for online shopping include department stores, up 37% online – John Lewis had its best web year on record, and benefited from negative publicity over Amazon's tax affairs.
Sales of electronic goods also grew online by 34%, especially following the collapse of Comet, sending more shoppers onto the internet. Sales of electronic goods also grew online by 34%, especially following the collapse of Comet, sending more shoppers on to the internet.
The seemingly endless rise in online sales is likely to focus the minds of traditional retailers, who have been investing heavily in multi-channel shopping, including click-and-collect services which have been very popular. The seemingly endless rise in online sales is likely to focus the minds of traditional retailers, who have been investing heavily in multichannel shopping, including click-and-collect services which are proving increasingly popular.
One of the few areas that saw an increase in offline spending was the entertainment sector – up 5.4%. The increases were due to cash-strapped consumers opting for cheaper forms of entertainment, with cinema sales up 8% and fast food growing 26%.One of the few areas that saw an increase in offline spending was the entertainment sector – up 5.4%. The increases were due to cash-strapped consumers opting for cheaper forms of entertainment, with cinema sales up 8% and fast food growing 26%.