Online sales have nothing to do with falling sales on the high street, according to one expert.
Richard Dodd, spokesperson for the British Retail Consortium (BRC), believes the idea that internet shopping is impacting stores is "a total an utter red herring".
He explained that online sales only represent six per cent of total retails sales.
"Ninety-four per cent of sales are happening in stores, in the traditional way," he stated.
Mr Dodd also pointed out that the largest online stores also tend to be the biggest retailers in general, so the rise in internet shopping is just a way for them to reach consumers through a different route.
According to the August 2008 Distributive Trades Survey, conducted by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), 60 per cent of respondents stated that sales in the first half of the month were lower than at the same time last year.
The worst hit sectors were household goods and furniture and carpets.
