London. With internet shopper numbers at an all time high and online spending growing by £2.4 billion in 2009, e-Retail is proving to be a star performer in the recession, says Verdict Research in its latest report, UK e-Retail 2009. In 2009, online spending by consumers on retail purchases will rise by a substantial 13.3% to £20.9 billion: a rate of growth in severe contrast to the historical decline being suffered by the total UK retail market.