Shoppers have spent $30.9 billion online from Nov. 1 through Dec.
16, up from $26.9 billion at the same point last year, said the
Reston, Va., company, which tracks Web use.
Online sales surpassed $1 billion on four days last week. Total
sales for the week climbed 15 percent to $6.31 billion compared to
last year.
The five days that ended on Friday "will almost certainly be the
heaviest week of the online holiday shopping season," said comScore
chairman Gian Fulgoni. Online spending will begin to slow as
Christmas draws closer, he said.
But "Cyber Monday," the Monday after Thanksgiving, is still the
largest online shopping day ever, according to comScore. Sales for
that day rose 22 percent from last year to $1.25 billion. Cyber
Monday sales topped $1 billion for the first time last year.
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The holiday shopping season can make up to 40 percent of retailers'
annual revenue. The online sales data point to Americans' growing
comfort with using their personal computers, tablets and smartphones
to shop for the holidays.
Discounting and promotions have also boosted shopping this year.
ComScore said on Sunday that shoppers have received free shipping on
at least half of all their purchases in each week of this year's
holiday shopping season.
[Associated
Press]
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