Christmas may be chilly for etailers

Early days but...

US consumers are unlikely to dramatically increase their online spending in the run up to Christmas. A survey from the International Mass Retail Association found "a flat reading on the internet" compared to increases for all other retail channels, according to a report in the Financial Times. A separate survey from Goldman Sachs, Harris Interactive and Nielsen Net Ratings paints a similar picture. The three companies have teamed up to deliver a weekly survey of consumer attitudes called the eSpending Report. Brand awareness remains important: 25 per cent of online shoppers visited a site based on a company's 'real world' presence. Only five per cent of online shoppers said the events of the 11 September had pushed them into more virtual shopping.