Online shopping may kill off UK high street

London: Travel agents, mobile phone stores and banks may disappear from the UK high street as consumers buy more products online and resort to shops only for clothes and accessories.

For holidays, MP3 players, bank loans and mobiles, the internet is now the main driver for Britain's shopping habits, according to market researcher ACNielsen.

But the report found at least 50 per cent of consumers still prefer to browse shops for fashion, jewellery and watches.

It also investigated the internet's role in shaping consumer choices along with that of traditional advertising, word of mouth, window shopping, previous experience and brand name.

Sixty per cent of those surveyed said travel websites are the main influence when shopping for a holiday.

Survey: Conventional ads fall

The survey said online shopping's growing popularity over the past 10 years had also weakened the power of conventional advertising.

While print and TV adverts were still important for fashion and cars, internet advertising, brand loyalty and personal recommendations proved more effective for other purchases.