Boom in online shopping

Shopping galore: Customers wait in line to check out during a sale at Macy’s in Indianapolis. Holiday sales in the United States rose at the fastest pace in 17 years, according to Mastercard Inc. — AP

NEW YORK: The United States retail sales rose 8.5% during this year’s holiday shopping season from Nov 1 to Dec 24, powered by soaring ecommerce sales, a report by Mastercard Inc says.

US e-commerce sales jumped 11% in this year’s holiday shopping season, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse report, yet again underscoring the Covid-19 pandemic’s role in transforming customers’ shopping habits.