2014 online holiday season sales up 15% in first month

RESTON, Va. — ComScore on Sunday reported that U.S. desktop retail e-commerce spending for the first 28 days of the 2014 holiday season were up 15% to $22.7 billion. 

 

Thanksgiving Day saw a significant 32% gain to $1 billion in spending to surpass the billion dollar threshold for the first time in its history and marking the first day of the 2014 season to reach that level. Black Friday followed with an even stronger spending day with $1.5 billion in desktop online sales, up 26% from Black Friday 2013.

 

"Thanksgiving and Black Friday both saw exceptionally strong online growth rates as each day surpassed $1 billion in desktop spending," said ComScore chairman emeritus Gian Fulgoni. "The strength we saw in the early online buying rush likely reflects a few things, including overall health in consumer spending, responsiveness to the strong deals being offered online, and perhaps some shoppers opting to stay home on Thanksgiving rather than head out to the stores that opened their doors early," he said. Regardless of the particular drivers, it's clear that the online holiday rush is getting off to a very good start and is reason for optimism as we get into the heart of the buying season."