Final days of holiday sales score big for e-commerce

Retailers and analysts projected more shoppers would be drawn to e-commerce this holiday season because of expanded promotions and a growing user base.

Data provider ComScore reports that U.S. retail e-commerce spending from desktop computers from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21 increased 15% to $48.3 billion from $42 billion during the same period the prior year. Much of that volume came during the final week before Christmas (Dec. 15-21) when online sales surged 18% to $5.8 billion.

"This final week of online holiday shopping before Christmas was very strong, finishing off the season on a high note and virtually guaranteeing e-commerce spending will outperform our pre-season forecast," said comScore chairman emeritus Gian Fulgoni.

"We are now running at a 15% growth rate in desktop e-commerce for the season, which should be taken as a very positive sign for the economic health of both the American consumer and the e-commerce channel as a whole.”

In the final week of the year, another $5 billion in online sales volume is expected to push e-commerce to another all-time high.