Online Holiday Purchases ‘Increase in 2009′

by Stephen Logan on 11th January 2010

A new report has found that the value of transactions taking place during the holiday season in the US saw a year-on-year increase despite the economic climate.

Purchases during the period from November 1st to December 31st 2009 reached $29,084 billion (£18,093 billion), which is a four per cent rise compared to sales in the same timescale in 2008, according to comScore.

Gian Fulgoni, chairman of the research firm, pointed out that consumer spending power has been restricted by the desire to save, high debt levels and increasing unemployment.

However, he claimed that online retailers "propelled" a late spending surge by offering guaranteed shipping and other effective marketing techniques, such as SEO services.

Mr Fulgoni added: "The 2009 online holiday shopping season was a positive one as its growth rate slightly surpassed our forecast and returned to solidly positive rates after nearly a full year of marginally negative growth."

A recent study by comScore showed the increasing popularity of online videos, with the total number of views for November reaching 31 billion in the US.