Online Retail Spending

Report: Online Retail Spending Jumps 29% During '04 Holiday Season

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 11, 2005 - 10:41am.
South San Francisco -- Retail spending by online consumers grew by 29% this holiday season, surpassing market researcher comScore's initial expectation of 23-26% growth, the firm said on Monday. Online consumers spent $15.8 billion on non-travel items during November and December, helping drive the total online spending in 2004 to a record level of more than $117 billion, up 26% from 2003. "While it's clear that a broad range of online merchants saw a strong season, multi-channel retailers were standouts this year," said Dan Hess, the senior vice president of industry analysis at comScore Networks. "Many of the nation's leading retail brands flexed their muscle this season, with strategies including faster delivery options, significant site redesigns and effective cross-channel promotions."