EBay expects December 4th to be the busiest online shopping day of the year

EBay U.K. is predicting that Sunday, December 4, will be the busiest online shopping day of 2011, with consumers making purchases on computers and mobile devices in preparation for the holiday season. EBay U.K. also expects online shoppers to buy gifts in numerous categories, with mobile phones and accessories and clothing and accessories leading the list.

In addition, eBay U.K. expects 5.8 million online shoppers to log in on December 4, with 30 gifts being purchased every second, and approximately two items bought every second via smartphones and mobile devices. The online retailer expects toy purchases to be more popular for online shoppers this year, and predicts mobile phones and accessory sales will increase 30 percent.

"This will be another record-breaking 'Super Sunday' for eBay U.K. with sales volumes around six times as high as on an average Sunday in September," Angus McCarey, retail director for eBay U.K., said. "This is explained by the general shift in retail spending to online, and the popularity of shopping on smartphones which is accelerating that trend."

Fresh Business Thinking noted other retail groups such as IMRG are also predicting healthy holiday numbers for online retailers despite a weak economy and poor consumer confidence. FBT reported online retailers are expecting a strong turnout this holiday season from shoppers scouring the internet for deals on gift items.