UK online sales fall for first time

31 Oct 2008 08:18 - Staff Reporter

Britain's online retailers have suffered a monthly traffic fall for the first time since records began three years ago, researchers said on Friday.

Britain’s online retailers have suffered a monthly traffic fall for the first time since records began three years ago, researchers Experian said on Friday.

Experian division Hitwise said United Kingdom internet traffic to online retailers fell 0,5% in October compared with the same month in 2007, suggesting the consumer spending downturn has begun to affect the previously fast-growing online sector.

Although weekly online traffic has declined year-on-year in the past, this was the first time it had fallen across a full month.

“Up until now, online retail has been surviving the economic downturn, but this month’s data proves that the sector is not immune,” said Hitwise director of research Robin Goad.

He said sub-sectors such as supermarkets were still benefiting, with internet traffic to the major grocers up 10% year-on-year. And soaring demand for secondhand goods proved a boost for classified retailers, who enjoyed a 47% jump over the same period.

Credit information company Experian’s headline European Retail FootFall index fell 2,2% in October, its seventh consecutive monthly year-on-year fall.

Its report warned that worse may be to come, as the impact of new shopping centre openings makes it even harder to shift maximum levels of stock.