The world may be in an economic downturn, however, that did not stop online retail giant Amazon. com from recording its' 'best ever' holiday season this year. Bucking the generally grim news coming from retailers and other e-commerce sites, www. amazon. com saw a 17% increase in orders on 15th December, its' peak day, shipping more than 5.6-million items, a 44% increase over its best day last year, when it shipped about 3.9-million items.

With consumers shortening their shopping lists this year, online retailers will be tightening their budgets, as SpendingPulse that tracks spending, says compared to last year's holiday season, its preliminary data shows a 2.3% decline in online sales.

Amazon, best known for its bargain prices saw Nintendo Wii game console, Samsung's 52-inch LCD HDTV and Apple's iPod touch, among some of its best selling items.

Perhaps, five less shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, including the northern snow storms, could have driven people in to making more last-minute online purchases than braving the weather. As well, according to Marianne Wolk, e-commerce analyst at Susquehanna Financial Group, more expedited shipping offers and promotions like rebates and coupons, could have spurred increased online shopping.