Nearly $25 billion has been spent online during the first 48 days of the holiday shopping season (Nov. 1 – Dec. 18), a 19 percent gain versus the corresponding days last year, surpassing the total spending that occurred for the entire 2006 holiday season, according to comScore, Inc.

On Dec. 17, online spending increased 33 percent to $700 million and on Dec. 18 it grew 25 percent to $670 million, year-over-year.

Figures from the Reston-Va.-based company exclude travel, auctions and large corporate purchases.

“Monday and Tuesday of this final week of pre-Christmas shopping saw strong growth in spending versus year ago,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “While it is now safe to say that the heaviest online spending days of the season are behind us, we believe we may continue to see strong growth rates during the remainder of the season due to the late-season shipping deals being offered by some retailers, and consumers’ ability to buy online and pick-up their purchase the same day at the retail store. It’s also clear that many consumers are willing to delay their holiday shopping later in the season this year in an effort to take advantage of any late season price discounts being offered by retailers.”

JCK