LINDA WERTHEIMER, host: NPR's business news starts with the Christmas shopping rush.</s>LINDA WERTHEIMER, host: It was the final weekend before Christmas, and stores in many parts of the country were crowded. But shoppers also flocked to store Web sites because much of the East Coast was buried in snow. Many shopping malls were closed, or shoppers simply didn't want to get out on the roads. Some big retailers like J.C. Penney and Macy's cashed in on the holiday cyber shopping by offering free express shipping. All that, plus big online discounts and greater acceptance of Web shopping added up to a big boost for e-commerce. Sales at traditional brick-and-mortar stores are flat compared to last year. Online shopping is expected to take a bigger share of overall retail sales, by one estimate, about 7 percent.
It was the final weekend before Christmas, and stores in many parts of the country were crowded. But shoppers also flocked to store Web sites, because much the East Coast was buried in snow. Many shopping malls were closed or shoppers simply didn't want to go out on the roads.