Online Holiday Spending Up 12 Percent To A Record $32.6 Billion

The final tally is in. comScore is reporting that retail e-commerce spending for the entire November through December holiday season reached $32.6 billion, up 12 percent and representing an all-time record for the season. comScore had previously predicted that online spending for the season would reach $32.4 billion this year, up 11 percent from the previous year.

comScore reports that fir the first time since 2001, Cyber Monday (Monday, Nov. 29) took the top spot as the heaviest online spending day of the year with $1 billion in sales. And Cyber Monday was the first day to cross the $1 billion mark in sales. Green Monday (Monday, Dec. 13) came in second with $954 million in sales, followed by Monday, December 6 with $943 million in spending.

Of course, other contributing factors to the increase in online spending this holiday season (besides an improved economy) included more free shipping offers, as well as the Northeast Blizzard that kept many shoppers home bound following the Christmas holiday. And comScore chairman and CEO Gian Fulgoni says that retailers began advertising their promotions earlier than usual to consumers this past season.

comScore had previously reported that Computer Hardware ranked as the top growing category for the holiday season with a 23 percent increase versus last year, driven by a growth in sales in tablet devices, e-readers and laptop computers. Books and Magazines as well as computer software also saw strong sales.