Internet sales rise 4 percent this holiday, ComScore says

Online spending by consumers increased to $15.3 billion this holiday season, a gain of 4 percent from the same period last year, ComScore Inc. said.

Sales of $886 million on Dec. 1 nearly met this year's record-matching Cyber Monday spending of $887 million, research company ComScore said in a statement on its Web site. The report includes the first 34 days of the holiday shopping season that began on Nov. 1.

Cyber Monday "was followed by several other strong online spending days helping to accelerate the growth rate," said Gian Fulgoni, ComScore's chairman, in the statement.

The first Monday after Thanksgiving is known as Cyber Monday because consumers return to work after the holiday and make purchases online. ComScore has said it expects Internet retail spending to rise 3 percent for the entire season.

Sales of consumer electronics and computer hardware have achieved "double-digit" growth rates compared to the same period last year, Fulgoni said.