Sales on electronics, toys and gifts continued Monday as retailers boosted efforts on the Internet.
An estimated 96.5 million Americans were expected to shop online Monday, up from 85 million last year, according to the National Retail Federation.
The Monday after Thanksgiving is a day the retail industry coined "Cyber Monday” in 2005.
Nearly nine in 10 retailers had a special promotion on Monday in the form of specific deals, one-day sales and free shipping.
Coremetrics, a Web analytics company in San Mateo, Calif., said that as of midday Monday, online sales were up 19.6 percent over a year ago.
The bright spot offers hope after traditional retail sales came in just above flat for Black Friday, with shoppers packing stores but sticking to their lists, going for deep discounts and practical items.
Online deals almost kept Yukon resident Karen Youngblood out of the stores on Black Friday. Her Christmas shopping list includes an Apple iPod, Nintendo DSi and a camcorder she’s had her eye on for months.
One item was $30 more, but it was worth it not to have to camp out at the store on Thanksgiving night, she said.
"Americans appreciate the convenience of shopping online, which doesn’t require standing in line, circling for a parking spot or even changing out of your pajamas,” said Scott Silverman, executive director of shop.org, a division of the National Retail Federation.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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