When you read the stories of what's happening in the stores, it's no wonder more and more people are buying online. It's so much easier to be a rational shopper and compare prices from the comfort of your home than getting caught up in a shopping frenzy at the store.
For the week ending Dec. 9, consumers spent $5.9 billion online, up 15 percent from the same period a year earlier, according to comScore, which tracks Internet activity.
E-commerce spending for the first 39 days of the 2011 holiday season reached $24.6 billion, also up 15 percent versus the corresponding days last year, comScore added.
Earlier in the season, the day that has become known as "Cyber Monday" saw a record $1.25 billion spent online in the United States, up 22 percent from last year. Other early season shopping days were also strong, with "Black Friday" e-commerce sales jumping 26 percent from a year ago.
