UK shoppers spent more online than anywhere else in Europe last year, accounting for almost a third of all European sales. The growth of online payments by British bank cards in 2009 amounted to 28, 5%, according to online payment service provider ChronoPay.

Despite hard economic times, British consumers are now spending more online than shoppers from any other European country. "At first glance it may seem surprising that online UK Spending is the highest in Europe, considering the high shopping prices in the UK. However English consumers are increasingly looking to buy products online that often can result in savings up to 20% or more. UK shoppers are feeling more and more confident about shopping online"- says Shai Meijers, Marketing Manager of ChronoPay EU. UK consumers spent ?38 billion shopping online in 2009, representing almost a third of total European sales.

Apparently, this trend will continue in the current year. A recent report, carried out by the Centre for Retail Research, predicts the UK online market will continue to expand in 2010, growing by 12.4% to £42.7bn.

Strong growth in online shopping - up to 19, 6% - is also expected in other European countries this year. Germany and France are the biggest markets for online trading after the UK, with these three countries accounting for 70% of the online sales in Europe. In 2009 internet sales accounted for 4.7% of all retail sales in Europe, and this figure is expected to increase to 5.5% in 2010.