Online sales up this holiday season

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Online spending grew during the last stretch of the holiday shopping season. Retailers made 14% more in 2012 than they did in 2011.

A recent Comscore report found that consumers spent $42 billion during the months of November and December of last year, compared to $37 billion in 2011. 

Shoppers told 22News that they are not surprised about this trend, as more deals and convenience is what keeps them clicking.

“I think there are a lot of sales online from what I know, so maybe that's part of it,” Joscelyn Jurich of Brooklyn, New York said.

“It's a lot of easier to shop online instead of going to a store wasting your time, waiting in line. Slip a card, plug in your number, and its there within a couple of weeks,” Russ Montano of Northampton said.

Comscore says that despite the growth, figures didn't reach their original expectations. Experts say Congress' deadlock over the “fiscal cliff” is to blame, because it negatively impacted consumer confidence.