Online Retail Off to Respectable Start

Online businesses are providing some bright spots amid thegloom that has enveloped the retail sector in recent weeks.

Despite weakening consumer confidence and a dismal economic outlook, Internet sales over Thanksgiving were up slightly compared with last year, according to retail analyst firm comScore. Boosted by a slew of special offers from anxious retailers, Web sales on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday increased 2% from the same period last year.

Although online sales those two days slowed significantly from the growth seen in 2007, when they were up more than 20% from the prior year, the figures will offer some comfort to online retailers and other Internet firms. ...