U.S. online sales are up 12 percent to $27.5 billion so far this holiday shopping season compared with a year ago, according to research firm comScore.
In the November 1 through December 17 period, four individual days surpassed $900 million, led by “Green Monday” on December 13 with $954 million and “Free Shipping Day,” December 17, with $942 million, according to comScore.
“Free Shipping Day punctuated an exceptional week in which consumers spent more than $5.5 billion online, representing a 14 percent increase from last year,” said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni in a statement.
“We have likely already witnessed the peak spending day of the year, which means that Cyber Monday should emerge as the season’s heaviest online spending day for the first time in history,” Fulgoni said.
The research firm said that computer hardware including Apple Inc’s iPad and laptop computers drove most of the growth.
I wonder how much of this had actual sales tax charged on it, and how much will be “forgotten” when filing next year. It’s stupid for the state to think people are dodging sales tax by shopping on-line. This article just shows that people are finding it more convenient. And for me, if the site doesn’t charge sales tax, I can’t see how the state would expect me to remember to put it on my tax forms.