As of Dec. 18, online consumers were on target to spend 24 percent more of their holiday dollars than last year, ComScore Networks said. With six days left before Christmas, $16.34 billion had been spent since Nov. 1, the beginning of the holiday-shopping season.
Last week, people spent 29 percent more than the same period a year ago, indicating that they're doing their online shopping later.
"Retailers' continued use of last-minute promotions and discounted in-time shipping have allowed consumers to comfortably extend their online purchasing later into the season," Gian Fulgoni, chairman of ComScore, said in a statement.
Last week's surge put spending on track to meet ComScore's overall 24 percent growth forecast for the season, Fulgoni said. "Retailers should be pleased with what has clearly been a strong online holiday-shopping season."
ComScore expects online shoppers to spend more than $19 billion for the entire season, and $82.7 billion for the full year. Last year, consumers spent $66.5 billion on the Web.