• by Paul Gough , December 8, 2003

If the latest retail spending reports hold, then it's going to be a big year for consumer electronics and toys/videogames.

The Nielsen//NetRatings Holiday eCommerce Index is confirmation of this, with its recent report showing that traffic to both these categories increased during the week ended Nov. 30. The Consumer Electronics category was the biggest gainer, with a 62 percent jump in traffic compared to the same period a week ago. Jewelry sites were second, with 27.9 percent growth, and toys/videogames were third in growth with an 18.7 percent rise. Other categories that showed double-digit growth week-over-week were Home/Garden and Shopping Comparisons/Portals.

Nielsen//NetRatings said that Consumer Electronics and Toys/Videogames grew at an intense pace, with triple-digit growth in visits since the beginning of November.

"Savvy consumers are comparison-shopping online, especially in consumer electronics, as retailers are offering special promotions in the form of low prices during the holiday season," said Abha Bhagat, a senior Internet analyst at Nielsen//NetRatings.

But there's a catch. Bhagat said that year-over-year spending in consumer electronics have only grown slightly because of the lower prices.

-- Paul J. Gough