Online sales hit all-time weekly high

Perhaps it has something to do with a compressed shopping cycle or perhaps it is simply a sign of the times, but either way, online consumer sales are booming while brick-and-mortar store sales continue to limp along.

According to comScore Networks, the week ending Dec. 13 recorded $2.2 billion in consumer sales, an all-time weekly high and a 37-percent increase over the second shopping week last year.

The New York-based research firm’s findings are based on the actual buying activity of a representative cross-section of more than 1.5 million Internet users at more than 50,000 online merchants.

The report also found that spending on non-travel goods and services increased 36 percent the week ending Dec. 13 versus a year ago to $1.7 billion, while travel spending went up 41 percent to $507 million.

Cumulative consumer online sales from Nov. 1 through the week ending Dec. 13 reached $10.8 billion, up 32 percent from the same period a year ago. Non-travel sales increased 23 percent versus a year ago to $7.1 billion, while travel e-commerce rose 55 percent to $3.6 billion.

Thursday, Dec. 12, was the peak day for non-travel purchases for the holiday season to date, with sales reaching $288 million. The day’s total sales, including travel services, were nearly $400 million.