Online payments increase in February

The latest figures analysis by IMRG Capgemini, a member-based e-commerce support and information company, show online spending increased. This February, internet payments rose by 20 per cent compared to the same time period in 2010.

Approximately, £4.9 billion was spent online, or £79 more per shopper according to the company's E-retail Sales Index. Joint January and February figures also show that internet payments reached £10 billion in revenues, exceeding market expectations.

The businesses experiencing this growth included clothing, electrical and home and garden e-shops. E-consultancy, an e-commerce information website, also reported that John Lewis noticed sales increase by 20 per cent during these months, compared to 2010.

According to the news source, a growing trend in digital shopping is social commerce. In a poll, 46 per cent of online customers who don't know what to buy said they rely on social websites to make choices. Individuals using platforms such as Facebook or Twitter can share shopping experiences and item assessments. These reviews increase the purchase of a specific product.

Overall, the number of merchants who accept credit cards on their websites increased to 94 per cent, the source highlighted.