Mobile retail

Online sales plummet between May and June

While e-tailers have experienced healthy sales growth in the first half of the year the decline between May and June proved the steepest fall-off in the last six years.

While the first half of 2014 displayed annual growth of 16 percent according to figures from IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index, five percent month-on-month decline between May and June was the most pronounced since 2008.

The disappointing figures for June represent the lowest year-on-year growth since July last year and have been blamed on a dip in consumer confidence and England’s disastrous performance in the World Cup. Big ticket and luxury items were the worst affected.

Chris Webster, vice president, head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini, said: “Online sales during H1 have been generally consistent with our earlier growth forecast of 17 percent, but at 14 percent, 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 interests 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.”

James Buttery

Editor of WatchPro, the WatchPro Hot 100 and The Luxury Report.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *