Surveys Differ on the Popularity of Online Shopping

About 35 percent of consumers will buy holiday gifts online this year, up from 33 percent last year, according to a survey of 5,000 U.S. households released last week by business research and analysis firm The Conference Board. Even more revealing, a separate survey of 1,000 adult consumers with Internet access released last week by comparison shopping toolbar company Vendio, shows that 78 percent of consumers plan to shop for holiday gifts online this year.