Verizon: Holiday season ends on high note for e-retailers

Online shoppers paused for Christmas Day, but otherwise stayed busy as elves through New Year’s Eve.

Data from the Verizon Holiday Retail Index indicates there was a strong surge in e-commerce traffic during the final days before Christmas, with increases of 16% on Monday, Dec. 23 and 32% on Tuesday, Dec. 24 compared to Nov. 1-27, 2019. All was calm and bright on Wednesday, Dec. 25 (Christmas Day), but there was a 15% average increase in e-commerce traffic between Dec. 26-31, 2019 compared to the November period.

“In the days leading up to New Year's Day, we saw consistent engagement and volume in e-commerce traffic,” said Michele Dupré, Verizon’s leader for retail, hospitality and distribution. “On average, traffic increased 15% from Dec. 26-31. As we move into the last weekend of this holiday season, retailers are making their last push to snag consumers with their final holiday promotions.”

Now in its sixth year, the Holiday Retail Index tracks digital commerce traffic across Verizon’s networks to the top 25 U.S.-based online retailers and their subsidiaries. The Holiday Retail Index monitors network traffic throughout the holiday shopping season, including during major online sales events such as Black Friday and Super Saturday.