PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
Poor weather in July saw shoppers flock to their computers rather than taking to the High Street according to a report out today.
Figures in the report by Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) showed that sales rose to £4.2 billion in July, up from £2.34 billion the previous July.
It also highlighted that improved websites and faster connections are encouraging more to do their shopping online rather than heading down the High Street.
IMRG said that the fastest growing sector was electronic goods, outdoing its closest competitor – clothing and accessories, which grew by 60 per cent year on year.
However, the report warned that heavy discounting drove much of the increase as retailers fought to draw in customers despite the recent rate increases by the Bank of England.
The figures are backed up by official figures from the Office of National Statistics, which showed that UK retail sales had increased faster than analysts had anticipated.
