Britain set for Christmas online shopping boom

Britain is set for its biggest online shopping boom, with consumers expected to spend £13.8 billion online this Christmas. Figures published today show a 42 per cent increase in online sales from last year. Experts believe the increased penetration of high-speed internet connection is behind the rise. A total of 61 per cent of UK homes (15.2 million households) are now connected to the internet, according to National Statistics, and 84 per cent of online households use broadband. James Roper of the IMRG, which represents online retailers and published the statistics, said: "The figures we have already seen for this year are staggering." A spokesperson for the online retailer Play.com said that, based on online pre-orders, he expects the Christmas top spot to be a three-way battle between X-Factor winner Leona Lewis, Kylie and Westlife. People are also feeling safer online, with more than three quarters of regular web users feeling confident about website security. Meanwhile, a survey today showed that 59 per cent of Britons think they will overspend this Christmas, with consumers collectively blowing their budget by £4.7 billion. The average person expected to get through £174 more than they planned, according to Lloyds TSB.