Samport

Net users will spend a projected €51 billion online during the Christmas Season.
Europe's online retail continues to grow, with a 58% increase in year-on-year sales in 2007. Online sales during the Christmas period are no exception. This year will bring good tidings to Europe's online retailers, which will rake in €51 billion collectively between October and the year's end - always the most important quarter for European retailers.

The largest online retail market is the UK, with 27 million online shoppers spending more than €700 each online during the Christmas shopping season - accounting for a record-breaking €20 billion in online sales. Germany's online shopping spend has grown to €12 billion. The categories that show the biggest uplift are the typical gift items - books, videos and DVDs, jewellery, toys, video games, consumer electronics, and alcohol. Despite a smaller Christmas season boost, the leisure travel category will claim the most online sales - responsible for 31% of Christmas sales.

Source: Research from http://www.forrester.com. 17 European countries participated in the survey.