Online holiday spending will exceed $19 billion, comScore forecasts

Consumer spending on U.S. retail web sites will exceed an estimated $19 billion during the November and December holiday season, a 24% year-over-year increase, according to comScore Networks Inc.

Non-travel spending during the first 20 days of the holiday season, ended Nov. 20, totaled $5.4 billion, up 22% from $4.4 billion for the same period last year, comScore said.

Last year, U.S. consumers spent $737 million online during the Thanksgiving weekend, a 33% increase from the $553 spent during the same period in 2003, comScore said. They spent $380 million on so-called Black Monday-the Monday after Thanksgiving-in 2004, a 29% increase from $300 million in 2003.