Ukash, the voucher-based prepaid online payment provider, has seen sales increase by 140% in the last 12 months and the company predicts that there will be continued growth in 2009 due to:

• Consumers becoming increasingly fearful of spiraling spending on credit
• The need to avoid charges from credit card companies and banks
• The continued threat of online credit card fraud and identity theft

Online spending across the retail sector has increased by 15% for the final quarter of this year compared with the same period last year* and New Year's sales are expected to provide retailers with a further boost as they look to defy the downturn in the economy. But consumers are changing the way they choose to do their online shopping.

Ukash users can purchase vouchers from hundreds of outlets across Europe and South Africa, receiving a unique 19-digit code which they can use anonymously online.

Mark Chirnside, chief executive of Ukash, explains the growing trend for alternative online payment solutions, "As consumers become more conscious of their credit-based spending, we are finding that our payment solution provides a convenient, easy way for shoppers to manage their finances."

* Source: IMRG (Interactive Media In Retail Group)