UK shoppers spent £6.4bn online during November according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.
Sales rose 23.4% compared with October, and 21.5% on the same month last year.

The research showed that consumers have dramatically ramped up Christmas shopping, with the gift sector soaring 123% in November compared with the previous month. Above average month-on-month growth was seen across all sectors, as the struggling economy saw shoppers move away from the high street in search of online bargains.

Also, with the VAT increase looming closer, shoppers appeared keen to make big-ticket purchases before the new year, with a 12% rise in the electrical sector compared with the same period in 2009.

Capgemini's head of retail consulting and technology Chris Webster said: "November has been a very significant month in terms of online retail. Of course the surge in sales can be attributed to the season, but it is indicative of the ongoing trend of consumers migrating online. This is a trend which is only set to continue particularly as consumers use the power of the web to make their ever-diminishing disposable income go further."

IMRG director of information Tina Sooner added: "November was a very strong month for online retailers with £6.4bn spent online. It has also been a very unique month - the huge rise in shopping combined with one of the heaviest snowfalls in recent years has proved challenging for many online retailers. It will be interesting to see how this will affect consumer confidence and whether it will result in a weaker than expected December."