The number of people looking for cheap online auction bargains has risen, according to new research from industry experts.
An E-retail Sales Index study by Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG) and Capgemini showed that online sales have increased by 14 per cent year-on-year between January and June 2009.
IMRG also claimed that the market grew by 17 per cent in July when compared to the same month last year.
Data showed that 3.3 per cent of all sales throughout June this year were internet based, against only 2.7 per cent in June 2008, as bargain hunters look to save money during the economic downturn.
James Roper, chief executive of IMRG, said that more people are using the internet as it is the easiest place to find the best price for anything, from holidays to shoes.
He added: "More people are looking online with a view to saving money on both day-to-day and one-off purchases."
Director of information at the firm Tina Spooner said that online merchants were becoming more sophisticated in their marketing efforts, which is leading to the increasing sales.