NEW YORK – Web retailer Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) on Monday said it set a one-day selling record this year as it logged its busiest holiday shopping season in its 10-year history, news that sent shares up nearly 9 percent.
The Seattle company, which had predicted record holiday sales, said it logged orders of 2.8 million units on its busiest day, or about 32 items per second worldwide, boosted by shoppers flocking to the site to snap up Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) iPods (search) and books during the busiest time of the year, between Nov. 25 and Dec. 23.
Amazon, which operates the most-visited Web retail site after eBay Inc.'s (EBAY) U.S. properties, did not specify which day was its busiest.
Sales of consumer electronics such as digital music and DVD players and digital cameras topped the list of most sought-after items, ahead of other sales chart toppers including comedian Jon Stewart's (search) book, "America: A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction."
Amazon said more than half a million gift certificates were ordered in the busy period and some 100,000 shipments were delivered to U.S. military personnel overseas.
U.S. online holiday sales from November and December are expected to rise 28 percent from a year ago to more than $15.5 billion, according to Internet research firm comScore Networks. Online travel and auctions are excluded from that figure.
Amazon shares were up $3.31 at $42.24 on Nasdaq from Friday's close of $38.93.
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