Online shoppers spend billions in Feb

Online spending by UK consumers has broken previous records, racking up £4.2bn in sales last month.

According to the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, this equates to £69 for every person in the UK and represents an increase of 46 per cent compared to February 2007.

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Not all of the categories have fared equally well however. While online beers, wines and spirits sales increased by nearly 40 per cent compared to the previous month, online electricals sales fell by 12.5 per cent.

The expected levy on alcohol in the Budget was probably the cause for the surge in alcohol sales, just as consumers were finishing their January detox, according to the researchers.

Health, beauty and fashion also experienced calmer sales, possibly due to New Year sales finishing.

Capgemini UK consumer products and retail team head Anthoula Madden said in a statement: "In the light of the clear pressures that the current economic climate is placing on retailers, it is startling to see how online sales growth shows no sign of abating. However, the global recession fear is a good reminder that e-tailers cannot be complacent and need to be even more creative to keep existing customers and attract new users. Innovation and the ability to provide a truly integrated multi-channel offering will be vital to being one of the winners through an economic slowdown."