While high street sales continued to stagnate into 2012, online trading followed its familiar path of rising steadily year-on-year in January, according to research published today.

In retail, health & beauty and lingerie goods saw the biggest yearly increase in trading, up 29 per cent and 30 per cent respectively, while gifting was the only product segment to experience a year-on-year decline, falling three per cent.

Although e-tail trading remains resilient, the dampened consumer environment was however reflected by steep declines in all product categories, bar travel spending, when compared to December 2011, with sales of clothing, footwear and accessories down 38 per cent and electricals falling 41 per cent.

Chris Webster, Head of Retail Consulting and Technology at Capgemini, commented: “There’s little cheer in these results for retailers. While the consumer price inflation is steadily decreasing, it has thus far failed to reinvigorate consumer spending.”

To read the original article on Retail Gazette, please click here: UK online sales rise 16% in January
Related Links:

• Press Release: Determined start to 2012 for online retailers
• Industry Overview: Retail