As per the figures released by Hitwise, a web-monitoring firm, Amazon is the most popular internet marketplace in the UK.

Along with the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG), Hitwise has released its Hot Shops list, which provides rankings of the highest-visited online retail stores in the UK. This list is brought out quarterly and is based on data obtained from April 2008.

The online retail giant, which has successfully led the rankings since May 2006 of every Hot Shops list, maintains its position above Apple, Play.com, Tesco.com and Argos.
The list, which comprises of several online retail stores already, saw some new players entering, which includes Marks and Spencer and Next.

Robin Gode of Hitwise stated that traditional high-street stores have improved their online presence significantly over a couple of years, and the Hot Shops list has shown this change in the market.

Goad continued further saying that it’s the sheer variety of retailers in the list – from sellers of the newest high-tech gadgets to grocery and DIY stores – that shows just how central online retail has turned out to be to so many people’s lives.