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comScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, reported U.S. retail e-commerce spending for the first 26 days of the November – December 2010 holiday season. For the holiday season-to-date, $11.64 billion has been spent online, marking a 13-percent increase versus the corresponding days last year. Black Friday (November 26) saw $648 million in online sales, making it the heaviest online spending day to date in 2010 and representing a 9-percent increase versus Black Friday 2009. Thanksgiving Day (November 26), traditionally a lighter day for online holiday spending, achieved a strong 28-percent increase to $407 million.

Economic confidence among the nation’s small business owners continued to improve in November, according to the Discover® Small Business WatchSM. The monthly index rose to 87.2 in November, up 3 points from 84.2 in October – the third consecutive monthly gain, and nearly 11 points higher than a year ago.

Electronics were among the most popular items purchased this weekend, as more consumers bought electronics this Thanksgiving weekend than last year, according to interim results from a new survey from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® and CARAVAN®.

Donating to charity is an important holiday tradition with many families planning to give at least $50 to charitable groups during this holiday season, according to a national survey by the American Red Cross.

Despite the economic crisis in the U.S. which has put many out of work and forced others to accept decreased benefits and pay, two in five Americans (41%) say this Thanksgiving they feel that they have more to be thankful for than a few years ago. Another two in five (41%) say they have about as much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, compared to a few years ago and just over one in ten (13%) say they have less to be thankful for this year; 5% say they are not sure.

Fannie Mae's most recent nationwide housing survey finds that Americans are less certain that the housing market has bottomed, and continue to be wary of buying a home. The Third Quarter 2010 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey polled homeowners and renters between July 2010 and September 2010. Findings were compared to similar surveys conducted in June 2010, January 2010, and December 2003.

With the traditional holiday shopping season just beginning, retail stores and online merchants are angling to capture their share of consumer spending. StrategyOne, a Daniel J. Edelman strategic research and measurement consultancy firm, today launched its annual Holiday Shopping Index to help forecast the shape of this year's holiday spending - especially in the early weeks of the season. The survey concluded that 88% of consumers have more gifts and presents still to purchase, and 79% are undecided about exactly what gifts to buy this year.

Millward Brown revealed findings from a recent U.S. study that looked at why people continue to shop in stores despite the convenience of online shopping.

Mortgage rates retreated this week, following two consecutive weeks climbing higher. The average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased to 4.58 percent., according to Bankrate.com. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.40 discount and origination points.

comScore, a leader in measuring the digital world, today reported holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 21 days of the November – December 2010 holiday season, as well as its official spending forecast for the season. For the holiday season-to-date, $9.01 billion has been spent online, marking a 13-percent increase versus the corresponding days last year.