First, the one-day record for US online retail sales was set on Cyber Monday 2006, November 27, when sales reached $608 million.
According to comScore Networks, a mere one week later, on Monday, December 4, a new single-day spending record was established as consumers spent $647 million online — $39 million more than the total spent on Cyber Monday.
But, as the old come-on says, "You ain't seen nothin' yet!"
On Monday, December 11, consumers spent $661 million, breaking the record for a third time this year.
And only two days later, on Wednesday, December 13, the record was broken again, with $667 million spent online in a single day.
Commenting on the record-setting pace, Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore Networks, said, "This demonstrates consumers' willingness to rely on retailers' late-season shipping guarantees."
comScore estimates that US consumer retail (non-travel) online spending for the 2006 holiday season through December 15 — the first 45 days of the holiday season — reached over $19 billion, marking a 25% increase vs. the corresponding days in 2005.
"Later shipping deadlines this season and the fact that many consumers received a paycheck on December 15 could keep online sales in full swing early next week," said Mr. Fulgoni. To see how reality is stacking up vs. the pre-season predictions, read eMarketer's Online Holiday Shopping Preview report.
Look for happy holidays online. Even before gas prices started dropping, consumers and retailers alike were predicting that 2006 would be another strong online holiday shopping season. One difference this year: sales growth will come less from newcomers and much more from experienced online buyers who increase their spending.
The Online Holiday Shopping Preview forecasts what will happen online in the important months prior and up to and immediately following the holiday shopping season.
eMarketer predicts that Web merchants will ring up sales worth $24.3 billion during the upcoming holiday season, November and December, a respectable 22.1% growth over last year. But there are many numbers – and many trends – behind those numbers.
Source: eMarketer 2006 |
