The Great British Summer has failed to live up to its billing yet again with one of the wettest Julys on record. But rather than dampening our spirits the incessant wet weather has driven shoppers online, resulting in a record level of Internet sales for the month.

Research from the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) has revealed that Internet sales rose to £4.2bn in July, up from £2.34bn in the same month a year ago.

The news has come as a shock to many analysts, who thought that the recent rise in interest rates would deter consumers from spending. However, with outdoor pursuits floundering as a result of the wet and windy conditions it seems that the lure of online shopping has proved too strong.

Electrical goods were found to be the fastest growing sector with double the level of sales from a year earlier, with sales of clothing and accessories the other big mover with an increase of 60%.

Back in May we reported that online retailing had hit an all-time high and this story is further evidence that the growth in e-commerce is set to continue long into the future.

For more information on our experience with e-commerce sites see our portfolio. Or alternatively, get in touch and we can advise how best you can take advantage of these burgeoning trends.