Consumers will spend £6.4bn online over Christmas, up 16% from last year, according to the IMRG Capgemini e-retail sales index.

The IMRG has revised its prediction for the total UK spend online in 2010 to £57.8bn, up from £49.8bn in 2009, based on performance so far in the year.

The monthly online retail spend report found that while sales were predicted to hit £6.4bn in December, those in September had already increased by 24% year on year as shoppers bought winter clothes and started Christmas shopping early.

Chris Webster, head of retail consulting and technology at Capgemini, said high-street sales were still declining as online sales continue to rise.

"The disparity between these figures reveals a very interesting trend among British consumers," he said. "The rise in online spending is at the expense of high street sales, and we may even see an early peak with shoppers looking to spread the cost of Christmas over several months."

Source: NMA