Online Xmas Shopping Report Shows Jewelry Sales Doubled

A major report on Christmas online shopping in the U.S. showed the trend of shopping on the Internet has grown even stronger with a 25 percent jump to $23.2 billion during the holiday season, with jewelry sales being among the highest risers.

Almost every category of goods posted year-over-year increases, according to the latest holiday eSpending Report from Goldman, Sachs & Co., Harris Interactive and Nielsen//NetRatings.

Jewelry was the fastest-growing category, generating the highest year-over-year growth in holiday dollars, with a 113 percent increase to $1.9 billion from $888 million in 2003.

The main Internet shopping categories were clothing, which accounted for 16 percent of total online shopping at $3.8 billion. Next came toys and games at $2.5 billion, or 11 percent of total revenue, followed by consumer electronics at $2.3 billion, or 10 percent of revenue.

The eSpending report showed that the majority of online consumers were satisfied with their Christmas online shopping experience, with 37 percent very satisfied and 24 percent somewhat satisfied. Almost a third of respondents (30 percent) said the 2004 online shopping experience was better than in 2003.

Among the factors cited by respondents for shopping on the Net was a desire to avoid the crowds (36 percent). An identical number also cited finding a lower price online as the reason they went shopping on the Internet. Meanwhile, the Internet's ability to offer a wide product selection was given as an important factor by 33 percent of those questioned.