Retailers expecting record 'Cyber Monday'

By Michael Northcott Monday, 03 December 2012

Online retailers are expecting record numbers of purchases this year on so-called Cyber Monday (today), the busiest online shopping day of the year.

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This year it is thought that shoppers will spend £222,222 per minute online, with around £320m spent in total throughout the day. Orders will most likely peak this evening between 8-9pm once most people have got home from work to order some goodies. Perhaps it's specifically this Monday so that people have time to order things, and send them back if they're not as good as they looked in the picture.

Amazon managing director Chris North told trade magazine Retail Week: ‘Monday 3 December could be the busiest day in the history of [our website]. As people increasingly shop on mobile devices and benefit from fast broadband at home, we’re seeing a move towards customers buying their Christmas gifts later in the evening when they are at home relaxing.’

Experian, the research firm, said it estimates around 115 million visits to e-commerce websites today, an increase of 36% compared with last year. This reporter hasn’t thought of what gifts to buy yet, so won’t be joining the rush.