More consumers are turning to the internet instead of the high street for their Christmas shopping. High street retailers feel the pinch of disappearing footfall, as consumers stay home to take advantage of cheaper online goods, according to a report by CyberSource, an electronic payments firm.

A recent UK government study, conducted by UK Online centres, found that consumers could save up to two thirds off their Christmas shopping by purchasing presents over the internet. The survey priced ten items at £1,128 when purchased on the high street, compared to just £761 online.

Nathan Jackson, managing director at CyberSource, said: “Retailers who boast an online sales channel have a significant advantage over those relying solely on high street stores.”

Online retailers are on the right track when it comes to online security, according to Cybersource. All of them polled by CyberSource use some form of fraud protection system, with manual review proving most popular with 73 per cent of businesses.

Jackson said, “It is essential that retailers provide consumers with a safe and secure shopping environment in order to retain this proposed increase in revenues and to ensure that consumers log out of the festive season smiling and free from fraud, with a new years resolution to revisit the website time and time again.”

Copyright © 2004,

Related stories

'Clicks and bricks' trick tempts window shoppers
Ecommerce to rocket in 2005 European online sales to outpace US
Sainsbury's suspends online discounts
Etailers fail ecommerce test
Chip and PIN intro fuels mini-boom in card crime
Online sales increase