10 percent of retail searches done on mobile devices

Research from the British Retail Consortium found one in 10 retail searches come from a mobile device. The BRC-Google Online Retail Monitor also reported mobile retail search volumes grew 168 percent in the third quarter of 2011 compared to the same quarter in 2010, generating a 35 percent increase in total retail search volumes on mobile devices and desktops.

Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, said consumers are finding new ways to save money, which is generating more online retail searches for lower prices. Online retail spending is growing much faster than in-store purchasing.

"Retailers are engaging with, and encouraging, this shift in shopping behaviour by providing more and easier ways to search and shop via smartphones and tablets," Robertson said.

The BRC report showed retail search volume for multichannel retailers increased 26 percent in the third quarter compared to 2010, while pure online retailers experienced 71 percent year-over-year growth for the quarter.

In addition, the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor reported a 0.3 percent increase in U.K. retail sales values from September 2010 to September 2011, and total sales were up 2.5 percent compared to last year.