The number of consumers ordering goods online for UK delivery services increased this year, according to the Kenshoo UK Retail Index.

It found that online retailers generated 314 per cent more revenue from online search advertising on Christmas Eve and 111 per cent more on Christmas Day than they had done last year.

The index covers paid search advertising across a number of major search engines.

For the 54 days leading up to and including Christmas, revenue from this source increased 61 per cent year on year.

Aaron Goldman, chief marketing officer at Kenshoo, said last-minute shopping "had new meaning" in the UK this year as consumers flocked to retail sites over the festive period.

"With stores always open online, people continued searching for deals and, thanks to savvier search marketing efforts, retailers were successful in capturing the increased demand," he added

Industry analyst Experian Hitwise recently revealed that 62.8 million UK residents visited internet retailers on Christmas Day.

Author:  Gillian Walters