Online Spending Up in Q4 on Increase in Shoppers

Reston, VA, Feb. 10, 2010—U.S. online spending increased 3 percent in the fourth quarter to $39 billion, according to comScore Inc.

In the fourth quarter of 2008, online spending fell 3 percent.

ComScore said the increase was driven by an increase in online buyers, while average spending per buyer dropped slightly.

Free shipping factored into more than 40 percent of e-commerce transactions during the holiday season, the firm said.

Dec. 15 ranked as the heaviest U.S. online spending day in history at $913 million.