British Internet shoppers spent a record 5.4 billion pounds (AU$12.47 billion) last month, underlining the steady growth in online retailing over the holiday period.
According to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, this amount equates to just under 90 pounds per person in the UK. The figure is 65 percent higher than the same period last year.
Researchers believe the growth rate is due to shoppers leaving online spending until later each year, with revenue growth in the preceding months declining, as November's online sales increase. Christmas gifts and alcohol were the highest-selling categories, followed by health and beauty, accessories, lingerie and electrical goods.
In a statement, John Lewis Partnership head of Web selling David Walmsley said: "Christmas kicked in with a vengeance in November. We saw above-target sales across larger items such as furniture, with home technology outperforming expectations as well. The week ending 8 December was our biggest-ever week [for online sales], growing by a stunning 59 percent."
