Holiday Web retail sales will grow, Forrester says

Overall retail holiday sales are expected to be flat to slightly down this year as consumers struggle with the recession, but US online holiday retail sales are projected to rise 8 percent to $44.7 billion, Forrester Research Inc. said.

The National Retail Federation has forecast a 1 percent a one percent decline in overall US holiday retail sales for this year, noted Forrester, a Cambridge-based research. Nevertheless, its recent survey of more than 4,000 US online consumers showed that Web retailers are expected to fare better.

A Forrester press release included a statement from Sucharita Mulpuru, a firm vice president and principal analyst.

"Despite the lingering effects of the recession, the online space remains the retail industry’s growth engine," Mulpuru said. "What’s different this holiday from past years is that online retailers will manage to the bottom line, which will change some of the tactics they have employed in the past." (Globe Staff)