US online buyers spent US$29.1 billion during the 2009 holiday season from November to December, a gain of four percent, reported a leading research firm on Wednesday.

ComScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, said the holiday season featured distinct periods of strong spending growth surrounding the Thanksgiving-Black-Friday timeframe and the final shopping week leading up to Christmas.

"The 2009 online holiday shopping season was a positive one as its growth rate slightly surpassed our forecast and returned to solidly positive rates after nearly a full year of marginally negative growth," said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni.

"Among the highlights of the season was the first 900-million-dollar online spending day and a strong late season spending surge, propelled by effective retailer promotions, guaranteed shipping and a major snowstorm on the eastern seaboard that convinced many to shop from the comfort of home," said Fulgoni.

"It's possible that this better-than-expected end-of-year performance is a harbinger of renewed vigor and optimism for 2010 as the consumer economy seeks to rebound from one of the worst years in memory," Fulgoni added.

According to comScore, the single largest spending day was December15 -- one of the last days to order for guaranteed Christmas deliveries -- when online sales totaled US$913 million.

The next best day was "cyber Monday," at the start of the holiday shopping season, with sales of US$887 million for November 30.

Holiday season retail is closely watched since consumer spending, which accounts for about 70 percent of the overall US economy, is still considered the main driver of the economic recovery.

Analysts said that the increase of online shopping in this holiday season was helped by a late-season snowstorm and retailer promotions. Moreover, the data reflected the economic recovery.

In a report released by the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, the central bank saw "the recovery in economic activity was gaining momentum."

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2010)