Online Shopping Hit New Highs in 2005

Holiday shoppers spent more online in 2005 than they did in 2004, continuing to steadily steal market share from brick-and-mortar shops, according to a report released last week by Goldman Sachs, Nielsen/NetRatings, and Harris Interactive.

Holiday shoppers in the U.S. spent $30.1 billion from late October until December 23, a 30 percent increase over the 2004 holiday season, according to the report, which surveyed 8600 shoppers in the U.S.

Online spending made up 27 percent of total spending during the holidays, up from 16 percent four years ago.

Brick-and-mortar shops attracted 68 percent of holiday spending this year, down from 72 percent last year, the report found.

Popular Items

This was a good season for computer hardware and peripherals, with online sales in the sector growing 126 percent to $4.8 billion in spending. But clothes were still the most popular item bought online during the season, with spending reaching $5.3 billion on the segment, according to the report.

Consumers spent less online on toys and video games this year, with the category sinking 9 percent compared to 2004.

The study also found that consumer satisfaction with online shopping is slowly creeping up, with 64 percent of those surveyed saying they were satisfied with their experience, compared to 61 percent in 2004.