The nationwide study found that 40% of UK consumers said they had made purchases through the direct mail medium, with an average annual spend of 拢500.
Clothing was the most popular item bought via the medium, with consumers spending 拢12.4bn a year, or 49% of the total, on fashion.
Spend on electrical goods more than doubled on last year's figure to 拢4bn, closely followed by household items, on which consumers spent 拢3bn as a result of direct mail in line with the ever-increasing trend for home improvements.
Not all sectors recorded gains though. Travel and holidays purchased via mail slumped to 拢0.2bn from 拢3.7bn a year ago, as the sector suffered a downturn following the terrorist attacks on the US.
The survey showed that shopping via direct mail is most popular among 35- to 54-year-olds, who were responsible for more than half the total spend. Geographically, it is more popular with consumers in the north of England, who account for 70% of the total spend.
DMIS managing director Jo Howard-Brown said: "These figures only go to show that more and more consumers are finding shopping from home a convenient and cost-effective option."
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