Online holiday sales growth slower in 2007

Online holiday sales rose 19 per cent during the 2007 holiday season, slower than a year ago, says ComScore, which provides data and research about online consumer behaviour. From 1 November to 27 December, online sales grew to $28 billion from $23.6 billion during the corresponding period a year ago.

Between the peak period of Thanksgiving and Christmas, which had 32 days in 2007 and 31 days in 2006, online sales rose 21 per cent in 2007, slower than the 26 per cent growth recorded in 2006. ComScore chairman Gian Fulgoni has said in a statement that warm weather in early November hurt sales.

Sales rose 29 per cent on 22 November - Thanksgiving Day. They were up 22 per cent on 23 November or 'Black Friday'. Sales rose 21 per cent the next Monday, known as 'Cyber Monday' and 33 per cent on 10 December, known as 'Green Monday'. Spending more than doubled on the day after Christmas.

During the complete holiday season, which includes all of November and December, sales would rise by 20 per cent to $29.5 billion, ComScore has predicted.