Internet Becomes A Holiday StapleInternet Becomes A Holiday Staple

The Internet took on a holiday glow during the final weeks of 2002, as more than three out of four users shopped for gifts, sent holiday E-mails, or sought out a church, according to a study released Wednesday.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project survey of 2,038 adults, conducted from Nov. 25 to Dec. 22, found that slightly more than half of all Internet users went gift shopping online, while 78% performed some form of holiday activity via E-mail during the holiday season,

According to the survey, 28% say they actually bought gifts online, while others say they engaged in virtual window shopping, researching products and comparing prices. Those who say they bought gifts online spent an average of $407, up slightly from last year's average of $392 and substantially from the 2000 figure of $330. Among gift-buyers, 74% say convenience was a major factor, while 73% cite the ability to save time and 31% say cost savings was a major factor.

One out of three users say they visited Web sites such as Gospelcom.net and Beliefnet Network to find spiritual and religious information, up from 25% last year.

An early-winter tracking survey by Pew shows that 57% of American adults, 109 million people, use the Internet.