This year, Santa went cybershopping

According to ZDnet online holiday spending rose 25 percent to 30 percent from a year ago. Hot items were computer hardware, consumer electronics and clothing.

A report from Goldman Sachs, Nielsen/NetRatings and Harris Interactive stated that between Oct. 29 and Dec. 23 retail shoppers in the U.S. spent $30.1 billion online, up 30 percent from the same period a year ago.

Clothing was the top seller in terms of dollar amount, at $5.3 billion total, up 42 percent from last year's revenue, the report said. Computer hardware and peripherals showed the most growth, 126 percent, at $4.8 billion. Consumer electronics was the second fastest growing category, garnering $4.8 billion, up 109 percent.

People spent $3 billion on books online, up 66 percent, and $2.3 billion on products in the toys/video games category of hardware and software, a drop of 9 percent from last year, the study found.