This Christmas will probably be the best yet for internet retailers, according to the market research firm Comscore Networks.

Now consumers are buying more personal objects such as apparel and accessories, and jewellery and watches Michelle David Adams, Comscore

During the first week after the late November Thanksgiving holiday in the US, internet sales rose 34% to a fresh record of $2bn (�1.27bn), up from $1.5bn a year earlier, Comscore said.

The rise contrasted sharply with US chain store sales which fell 2.3% during the first week of December, according to Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi and UBS Warburg.

Harsh winter weather in some parts of the United States and greater familiarity with the internet convinced many shoppers to stay at home and spend money online, researchers said.

Broader product range

Comscore expects the trend to continue in the run-up to Christmas.

"Holiday e-commerce spending continues to gather momentum," Comscore vice president Michelle David Adams said, insisting that the internet's "convenience, competitive pricing and wide product selection" attracted customers.

"Things like books, CDs and DVDs have had strong sales in past years.

"Now consumers are buying more personal objects such as apparel and accessories, and jewellery and watches, two categories that demonstrate an increased comfort level with buying online."

Online shoppers are expected to spend up to $26bn during the last three months of this year, up 65% on last year's $15.8bn online sales, Comscore predicted.

Between 1 November and 6 December, online shoppers spent $8.2bn, up 29% from a year earlier, Comscore said.

Sales of jewellery and watches saw the sharpest rise, up 66% from a year ago to $121m.

"Conditions for e-commerce for this year are better than in previous years," said Allyson Rodgers, analyst with the brokerage Ragen MacKenzie.