17.7 mln shopped online for the first time in 2004

The 2004 holiday season attracted about 17.7 mln new online shoppers, according to JupiterResearch. Online retail spending during November and December 2004 reached $22.1 bln, up 22% from the previous year. Online retail sales in 2005 will reach $79 bln, about 20% more than the $66 bln spent in 2004.