Consumers spent $3.4 billion online in February, compared with $3 billion the month before, according to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation and Forrester Research, Inc.
In addition, the number of households online increased to 13.5 million in February, up from 3.3 million in January.
Jewelry and flowers also experienced a big boost during the same period of time–from $99 million to $166 million. Forrester’s research director, James L. McQuivey, attributed this rise to the stirring of “Valentine’s Day love fires.”
However, video sales dropped to $52 million in February, compared with $83 million in January. Sales of office supplies, toys and videogames also dropped by major percentages.
“Physical retailers were challenged in February by, among other things, bad weather in many part of the country, which kept many consumers house-bound,” said Tracy Mullin, president of the NRF, in a statement. “The online figures show strength in the very areas where physical stores were weakest last month, strongly suggesting that consumers embraced the multi-channel approach in February to meet their buying demands.”
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