• November 14, 2000

Online sales are expected to reach $12.5 billion during the 2000 holiday season reports leading marketing information provider, The NPD Group, Inc. Due to a surge in the number of online buyers and an increase in spending by holiday 1999 buyers, this year's sales will nearly double last year's revenue estimates, reveals NPD's Online Holiday e-Visory Report, a study of 4,315 Internet users. The holiday period is defined as November and December of 2000.

According to NPD, 8 in every 10 Web users plan to shop online to browse for products and services this holiday season. Fifty-four million individuals plan to go ahead and complete an online transaction by purchasing at least one product or service on the Net. This is approximately two-thirds of the active Internet population.

Many online merchants can expect repeat customers. Ninety-five percent of those who bought online during Holiday 1999 plan to do so again. However, these consumers comprise only half of Internet users that plan to buy online in Holiday 2000, giving evidence to the dramatic surge in online holiday buyers that is expected. Additionally, 56% of those who bought during the previous holiday season said they expect to spend more money online this season.