Online activity measurement company comScore uses the US buying habits either side of the Thanksgiving holiday to assess likely holiday online purchases, and said this week that on the Friday after Thanksgiving, online trading was up 22% to $531 million, and on the Monday was up 21% over last year to $733 million, concluding that over $10.7 billion was spent online a rise of 17% in the holiday season so far. The Monday purchasing was 84% above the usual online trading for the previous month.
The days around Thanksgiving are known for heavy spending in retail stores, and now much of that is shifting to online.
comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni, said ‘Online spending on Black Friday has historically represented an early indicator of how the rest of the season will shake out. That the 22% growth rate versus last year is outpacing the overall growth rate for the first three weeks of the season should be seen as a sign of positive momentum.’ He then concluded that the Monday trading was the heaviest online shopping day on record.
The hottest category was video games, consoles & accessories, up 134% versus the corresponding days last year. Sales of Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, and popular game Halo 3 continue to drive growth here.
Furniture, appliances & equipment category was up 36% and consumer electronics were up 21%. Other gains were more modest.
comScore also issued a request to Nasdaq to withdraw its Registration Statement for a further public funding round, due to the unwillingness selling shareholders to sell under current capital market conditions.