JupiterResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM-News), Monday released a new ecommerce report, "Holiday 2004 Forecast: Consumers Look to Online For Inspiration and Planning." The
report projects that online retail holiday sales for the period of November and December 2004 will reach $21.6 billion--a 19 percent increase compared to the same period in 2003. The report notes that
online sales continue to experience double-digit increases versus uneven growth offline, primarily due to the growing number of online buyers; 86 million U.S. residents are expected to make holiday
purchases online this year compared to 73 million last year--an 18 percent increase. In addition, JupiterResearch forecasts a 2 percent increase in spending per buyer compared to last year.
