Internet boosts high-street retailers

NEWS The Internet is driving US consumers to spend more in the high street, according to the latest study by Harris Interactive. The US research group's poll of 100,000 online users found they are using the Net to gather information about products, leading them to spend up to nine times as much as usual in high-street shops. Harris CEO, Gordon Black, said the survey proves people still prefer to use the Net to look for, rather than buy, consumer goods. The only area to buck this trend is bookselling, where shoppers tend to spend far more money online than off.