Holiday Shoppers Buying Later On the WebHoliday Shoppers Buying Later On the Web

Online holiday shoppers are buying later in the season, due to retailers' last minute promotions and discounted shipping, a consumer research firm said.

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.