Online sales up 25 percent this year

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Dec. 24 (UPI) -- U.S. online holiday spending this year increased 25 percent over the same period in 2004, a report by eSpending says.

The Goldman, Sachs & Co., Nielsen//NetRatings and Harris Interactive's Holiday eSpending report, based on a weekly national survey of approximately 1,000 online adult consumers, found online shoppers have spent the most on apparel/clothing thus far in the 2005 holiday season, totaling $4.7 billion, or 17 percent, of total online revenue.

The computer hardware/peripherals and consumer electronics categories placed second and third, with revenue totals of $3.7 billion each. Books and toys/video games rounded out the top five product categories, accounting for a respective $2.6 billion and $1.9 billion in online revenue.

"In recent years, consumers shop online later and later in the holiday season, making the week prior to the holidays the peak in online holiday shopping, with over half of shoppers completing all of their purchases," said Heather Dougherty, senior retail analyst, Nielsen/NetRatings. "With guaranteed delivery by Dec. 24 and additional discounts and incentives, online retailers continue to court shoppers until late in the season."