Forget productivity, consumers returning to work after the Thanksgiving holiday set a record for online sales during the annual "Cyber Monday" this week. Consumers bought nearly 10 percent more items per order on Cyber Monday, compared to last week's Black Friday and nearly 30 percent more than Cyber Monday in 2008, according to statistics compiled by Web analytics firm Coremetrics.

Consumers also spent more per online order ($180.03 versus $130.24) over last year's Cyber Monday, led by apparel retailers.

The analysis was part of Coremetrics' second-annual Cyber Monday Benchmark Report that looked at online shopping in the U.S. through 12 a.m. Tuesday.

"What we've seen in the past week is that online sales have grown quite a bit, and that consumers are willing to shop late into the evening and early morning," John Squire, chief strategy officer at Coremetrics, told InternetNews.com. "Consumers respond to value. When there are discounts, free shipping and other offers, they open their wallets."

Read the full story at eCommerce-Guide.com