US e-commerce spending for Q4 2011 has reached USD 49.7 billion, up 14 percent as compared to the same period in 2010. The value of e-commerce spending for the entire year of 2011 has jumped to USD 161.5 billion, up 13 percent since 2010, market research firm comScore reports

According to the same source, the most popular online product categories were digital content & subscriptions, jewelry & watches, consumer electronics, toys & hobbies and computer software, each accounting for an 18 percent growth since 2010.

The comScore report has also shown that during the period under review there were 10 consecutive days when online spending surpassed USD 1 billion. On Cyber Monday the online spending hit USD 1.251 billion, followed by 5 December 2011 when the value reached USD 1.178 and Green Monday with USD 1.133 billion. Furthermore, 52 percent of e-commerce transaction included free shipping as compared to 49 percent in Q4 2010.

The findings of the study have also unveiled that in 2011 smartphones and tablets played an increasing part in online shopping, as a result of an increasing number of consumers who start using smartphones to check prices and product features while physically in a retail store.