Forrester Research has released a new forecast predicting yearly growth of six per cent for the UK e-commerce sector up until 2014.

The UK Online Retail And Travel Forecast report shows that 28 million Britons currently shop online, with this figure expected to rise to 37 million over the next five years, with these consumers set to spent about £56 billion online in total.

It also suggests that UK online shoppers are likely to spend more on purchases than those in the US and elsewhere in Europe, while Britons are most likely to buy books, DVDs and leisure travel services over the web.

Victoria Bracewell Lewis, retail analyst at Forrester Research, said that the UK's e-commerce market tends to be driven by "a virtuous cycle".

"Growing numbers of UK online shoppers and growing online spend per shopper encourage retailers and travel operators to improve their online offerings, which in turn draw more shoppers and higher spending," she commented.

January 2009 saw UK consumers spend about 19 per cent more on online purchases than in January 2008, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index.

The clothing, footwear and accessories e-commerce category experienced the highest growth at 32 per cent, followed by electricals at 22 per cent.