Retail Decisions to Double From Here

Online shopping traffic up 26% in 2004 holiday season

Thursday, December 30, 2004 12:23:48 PM ET
newratings.com


NEW YORK, December 30 (newratings.com) – Internet research company Hitwise said yesterday that online traffic at web retail and classified sites had increased 25.6% y/y during this holiday season, while reaching a peak on Thanksgiving Day, November 25.


Australia-based Hitwise said that this year’s online holiday traffic patterns were similar to the ones witnessed in 2003. During the holiday period from November 1 to December 25, shopping and classified sites accounted for 9.1% of the total US Internet visits. Visits to pure online retailers, including Dell, eBay and Amazon, peaked on November 10, December 9 and December 11, while visits to sites of large retail companies, such as Wal-Mart, Target and Best Buy, peaked on Thanksgiving Day, the research firm said. Online traffic was also heavy on Christmas Day.