IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index: Steepest May-June decline since 2008

London – The latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index have revealed online sales experienced a disappointing end to H1, recording the lowest annual growth since July 2013 (9%), and the steepest drop between May and June (5%) since 2008.

While the annual growth does come off the back of a particularly strong June 2013 (20%), and the overall performance in H1 has been positive (16%), the results reveal the impact the current dip in consumer confidence has had on e-retail sales.

In terms of specific sectors, it was the big ticket items that recorded the weakest performance in June, as British shoppers avoided splashing out on expensive luxuries. The Travel sector saw a YoY increase of just 3%, its lowest annual growth since July 2013, and Electricals just 7%; no doubt further hampered by England’s early departure from the World Cup.

Tina Spooner, Chief Information Officer at IMRG, commented: “Football fans clearly stocked up their fridges in anticipation for the World Cup, as the Beers, Wines and Spirits sector surged 20% year-on-year last month, and the 17% growth we saw from May to June was the steepest jump between those months we have ever seen in this sector. But during the week England were knocked out we saw a distinct 15% drop in alcohol sales as fans were denied the chance to raise a glass to a repeat of 1966.”

“It’s fair to say June was not a good month for British sport and the poor performance in the Electricals sector – with growth of just 7% year-on-year – suggests Britons were not too interested in buying new technology to watch the action, whilst higher than average temperatures and lots of sunshine kept customers outdoors.”

Significantly, the conversion rates rose to 4.8% last month, the highest rate for June since 2008, while the average basket value recorded £83 (excluding travel), up 5% from June last year.

Chris Webster, VP, Head of Retail Consulting and Technology at Capgemini, said: “Online sales during H1 have been generally consistent with our earlier growth forecast of 17%, but at 14%, the lowest quarterly growth in two years, Q2 has been heavily skewed by June’s poor performance.

“The figures reveal just how influential a turbulent economy can have on our shopping behaviour. The current uncertainty around interest rates has resulted in a dip in consumer confidence, and as a result, we’re still happy to buy the everyday items, but we’d prefer to hold off on those expensive treats.”

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About the ‘IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index’
The IMRG Capgemini Index, which was started in April 2000, tracks ‘online sales’, which we define as ‘transactions completed fully, including payment, via interactive channels’ from any location, including in-store.
Over one hundred e-retailers now regularly contribute data to the IMRG Capgemini Index, including A. Hume Country Clothing, Addict, Airport Parking & Hotels Ltd, Alison at Home, Amara, Appliance House, Arcadia Group (Burton, Top Man, Top Shop, Dorothy Perkins, Evans, Wallis, Miss Selfridge), Ask Direct, ASOS.com, B&Q, Bank, Berry Bros & Rudd, Binends.com, Blacks, Boden.co.uk, Boohoo.com, Boots Direct, Brora, Buyagift.com, Carphone Warehouse, Charles Tyrwhitt, Clarks, Crocus.co.uk, Dabs.com, Damart, Debenhams, Deckers, Dune, Dunelm Mill, Effortless Skin, Ethical Superstore, Firebox, First Choice, Freemans Grattan Holdings (Freemans, Grattan, Look Again, Kaleidoscope, Curvissa, Swimear365, Witt International UK), Game, Get The Label, Getting Personal.co.uk, Greenfingers.com, Hobbs, Home & Cook, JD Sports, J D Williams, John Lewis Partnership, Ladderstore.com, Lastminute.com, LK Bennett, Lookfantastic.com, M and M Direct, Majestic Wine, Marks & Spencer, Millets, Moss Bros, Naked Wines, NaturalCollection.com, New Look, Next, Perfect Handbags Perricone MD, PetPlanet.co.uk, Philip Kingsley, PIXmania, Prezzybox.com, Purely Gadgets, QVC, Redfoot Revolution, Richer Sounds, Sainsbury’s, Scales Express, Schuh, Scotlight Direct, Scott, Shoe-Shop.com, Shop Direct Home Shopping (Brand Quarter, Kays, Littlewoods, Very, Isme, Woolworths), Serenata Flowers, Size, Sofa and Home, Sparkling Strawberry, Sunshine.co.uk, SuperGA, Tesco.com, The Body Shop, The Mat Factory, , The White Company, This is Pulp, ToxicFox, TUI UK, Turton Wines, Waitrose, Wilkinson Hardware & Wynsors World of Shoes.

About IMRG
IMRG (Interactive Media in Retail Group) is the UK’s industry association for e-retail. Formed in 1990, IMRG is setting and maintaining pragmatic and robust e-retail standards to enable fast-track industry growth, and facilitates its community of members with practical help, information, tools, guidance and networking. The strength of IMRG is the collective and cooperative power of its members. For more information please visit http://www.imrg.org/ or email membership@imrg.org

About Capgemini
With more than 130,000 people in over 40 countries, Capgemini is one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. The Group reported 2013 global revenues of EUR 10.1 billion. Together with its clients, Capgemini creates and delivers business and technology solutions that fit their needs and drive the results they want. A deeply multicultural organisation, Capgemini has developed its own way of working, the Collaborative Business Experience^TM, and draws on Rightshore^®, its worldwide delivery model.
Learn more about us at http://www.uk.capgemini.com/.
Rightshore^® is a trademark belonging to Capgemini