As of Dec.9, online holiday sales are 16 percent better than last year, according to a report from Goldman Sachs, Nielsen/NetRatings, and Harris Interactive's latest Holiday eSpending Report. Between
Oct. 29 and Dec. 9, online shoppers spent $18.6 billion, which the report said is 16 percent higher than 2004. Shoppers spent $3.4 billion on apparel and clothing, the largest category, followed by
consumer electronics, with $2.8 billion in sales; computer hardware/peripherals, $2.7 billion; books, $2.2 billion; and toys and video games, $1.4 billion. Analysts say aggressive discounting on items
like PCs and laptops led to the surge in computer sales. Interestingly, comScore Networks' online holiday spending numbers, which are measured from Nov. 1 to Dec. 16, are lower, and at $15.9 billion,
indicate a 23 percent increase from the Internet research firm's 2004 findings.
Read the whole story at Internet Retailer »
