ASOS, the online clothing retailer, today reported sales growth of 95 per cent for the past three months in the clearest sign yet that shoppers are deserting the high street for the internet.

Nick Robertson, ASOS chief executive, said the group - originally named As Seen on Screen - had been immune to the consumer slowdown buffeting clothing chains across the retail sector.

Pre-tax profits in the year to March 31 more than doubled to £7.3 million on sales of £81 million, up 90 per cent.

Sales since the beginning of April are up 95 per cent on the same period a year ago.

The figures are bolstered by the huge growth in the number of product lines sold by the business, from just over 4,000 in May 2007 to nearly 11,000 different lines.

However on average customers are spending £53 each time they buy on ASOS, against £43 a year ago.

Mr Robertson said the group was now far more than a business that sampled celebrity fashion, such as clothing worn by the likes of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, to draw in customers.

He added that ASOS would be stepping up its expansion later this year through the launch of ASOS Red, a branded clearance sector for end of season stock. It will also offer same day delivery within the M25 region from October.

“Whilst the macro economic conditions appear to be deteriorating, I believe we have, and will continue to benefit from the significant migration to online shopping, especially amongst our core customer base,” he said.

The figures follow a series of disappointing trading updates across the high street as established chains such as Marks & Spencer and Next battle both the consumer downturn and changeable weather.

The internet is expected to account for up to 15 per cent or £45 billion of retail sales by 2012. The amount spent with internet retailers rose 35 per cent to £14.7 billion in 2007, ten times the growth rate across the retail market as a whole.

David Jeary, analyst at Investec, said: “ASOS has delivered a hat-trick of good news, stronger than expected pre-tax profits, an acceleration in current sales growth for the first quarter, and confirmation of the launch of ASOS red.

“We would expect upgrades to current year consensus of £12 million.”

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