comScore: Final push propels online holiday sales to $30.8 billion

Reston, Va. -- A record $30.81 billion was spent online for the first 56 days of the November/December 2010 holiday season, marking a 13% increase versus the corresponding days last year, according to comScore. The most recent week (ending Dec. 26) witnessed $2.45 billion in spending, an increase of 17% versus the corresponding week last year.



“Online holiday spending has remained strong through Christmas and we’ve already seen the season totals easily surpass the levels of the past few years to set a new record for spending at almost $31 billion,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni.



Computer hardware ranks as the top growing category for the holiday season to date with a 23% increase over last year, with purchases of handheld devices (such as Apple iPads and e-readers) and laptop computers driving much of the category growth. Books and magazines ranks second with 22% growth; followed by consumer electronics (up 21%); computer software excluding PC games (up 20%); and toys (up 16%).



Other categories in the Top 10 included jewelry and watches (up 11%) and apparel and accessories (up 8%).