Will mobile apps see rise in Christmas sales figures?

Despite all the online and mobile retail propositions, new

research is showing that Christmas shoppers will only spend 1% more this year. Research by accountancy firm Deloitte forecasts that online shopping will increase by 17% this Christmas with total UK retail sales edging up by a modest 1%.

Ian Geddes, UK head of retail at Deloitte, said: "We remain cautious on the long-term outlook for UK retail, but there are more reasons to be optimistic than pessimistic this Christmas." He added: "Consumer confidence has gradually improved over the course of the year and despite the recent increase in inflation, it is much lower than it was 12 months ago easing the pressure on households. Whilst it is not certain whether this will translate into higher spending, with consumers continuing to show a desire to save, we believe it will be enough to generate modest growth."

The firm expects consumers to make £330 million worth of Christmas purchases directly on their smartphones this year and a further £500 million via tablet computers.