JANUARY 2004

Online Sales Set New Holiday Record

The Internet continues to grow in popularity as a shopping tool. Online holiday shopping rose 30% in the last two months of 2003. Sales during the holiday season (November 1 through December 31) totaled $12.5 billion, excluding revenue generated from travel or auction-related transactions. For all of 2003 online retail sales totaled $52 billion, up 22% from 2002. By comparison, travel-related purchases online totaled $41 billion in 2003. According to CBS Marketwatch.com, home and garden items topped the online holiday sales categories, followed by electronics, clothing and computers, in that order.