Brits will spend £14bn online in the run-up to Christmas, according to figures from uSwitch.com.
This will bring the total spend on buying goods over the web to £40bn in the UK this year, the price comparison site said.
Online shoppers are expected to spend an average of £509 this Christmas, up 40 per cent last year.
Steve Weller of uSwitch.com said: "Online security has vastly improved so our peace of mind is greater than ever before. The internet makes it easy to shop around at maybe 40 or 50 different stores in one go to make sure that we are getting the best deals."
However, a consumer watchdog has said that though online shopping is convenient, many people don't understand their rights and the returns policies put in place by retailers.
Peter McCarthy of Which? said: "It's a great time to buy online, especially with the new ruling on protection for credit card purchases abroad. But it's also important to know exactly what your rights are before surfing the net for bargains.
"Online shopping isn't always a case of 'what you see is what you get'. It can be difficult when all you have to go on is a photo. As well as your statutory rights, it's worth checking returns policies, as these do vary," McCarthy continued.
www.uswitch.com www.which.co.uk
Topic: Online spending to hit £40bn (Read 1232 times)