Online sales growth slowed to 14 per cent year on year in June – the second slowest rate recorded, according to NAB’s online retail sales index.

The slowing rate of growth in June may be related to two key factors. June 2013 had only four Fridays – typically a peak day for online sales – compared with five Fridays in June 2012.

June 2012 also featured several major product launches in the homewares and appliances space (particularly in personal computing and mobile phones), which tend to inflate sales, while June 2013 lacked similar releases, contributing to more subdued growth.

In the twelve months to June 2013, Australian online retail spending totaled $13.9 billion.

This spending is equivalent to 6.2 per cent of the traditional bricks and mortar retail sector (excluding cafés, restaurants and takeaway food for a like-to-like comparison) in the year to May 2013.

The growth rate for online retail sales slowed for the second straight month in June. In May it came in at 17 per cent. This is the second weakest growth rate in the history of the index, stronger only than the 12 per cent growth of March 2013.