U.S. online holiday season sales are set to build on a strong 2009 showing and rise a further 14.3% over the same period last year, eMarketer reports.
“Holiday shopping is ideally suited to the Internet,” Jeffrey Grau, eMarketer principal analyst and author of the new report, ‘Online Holiday Sales Forecast: Optimism Is in the Air,’ said in a release. “Consumers appreciate the convenience and product selection online, as well as the abundance of resources available for finding good deals, especially for cost-conscious shoppers trying to weather the tough economy.”
The 14.3% bump will bring retail e-commerce holiday season sales to $38.5 billion, up from $33.7 billion last year.
“This holiday season, consumers will open their wallets more than they have the past two years, even though they will remain extremely price-focused,” said Grau. “Online consumers have become savvy at finding coupons, comparing prices, locating cheaper product alternatives, and exchanging shopping tactics and information about bargains with peers through social media.”