From BBC News Business - Friday, 13 December, 2002, 07:23 GMT

For the first time, UK consumers have spent more than £1bn ($1.6bn) in just one month shopping online, according to a survey.

The retail group IMRG said that sales broke through the £1bn mark last month, and have nearly doubled over the past year.

The growth in internet shopping is running about 15 times faster than that of general retail sales, the survey found.

With the US market taking its toll from the economic slump, the UK consumer is on his or her way to becoming the world's largest spender online Jaap Favier, Forrester Research

IMRG also said that online shopping in the UK was growing three times faster than in the US.

"This high growth confirms that UK consumers at large are getting very confident with online purchasing," said Jaap Favier, research director at Forrester Research, which carried out the survey.

"With the US market taking its toll from the economic slump, the UK consumer is on his or her way to becoming the world's largest spender online."

Net profit

The study said that consumer demand for shopping online was "broad based and evolving", and November's sales figure represented a jump of 10.1% on the previous month.

The take-up of high-speed broadband internet links is thought to be one factor behind the speedy growth.

"Broadband's rapid take-up is already having a profound impact on online shopping, setting exciting new expectations for consumers," said IMRG chief executive James Roper.

"Its fast connectivity enables consumers to nip to the stores online and enjoy a hassle-free rich online shopping experience."

Leap in sales

IMRG's November online sales figure was based on sales of £218m of 77 surveyed e-tailers, accounting for 23% of the estimated online market.

Online sales have risen by 95% over the past year, IMRG said, compared with a rise of just 6.1% in general retail sales.

US figures for the July to September period this year showed online shopping sales were more than $11bn, representing 1.3% of total US retail sales, an increase of 34.3% on the same period last year.

In the UK, online sales over the same July to September period reached £2bn ($3.14bn), representing 4% of total UK retail sales, up 114.5% on the same period in 2001.