The convenience of comparison websites is making them more popular by the day, according to a financial specialist at a leading research company.

Toby Clark of Mintel revealed that the websites meant that a person did not have to call around different firms and risk phone bills, instead using the internet and getting all of their quotes at once, for most products as well.

He said that people mostly searched for motor insurance online and the product was the first to really break the market for online comparisons.

Mr Clark continued: "Online retailing is continuing to grow and the more people shift their Christmas present shopping online, the more likely they are to use price comparison sites before they make a purchase to know they're getting a good deal."

According to a recent press release by Mintel, 19 million British residents have used a price comparison website to look for a finance product.