After "Black Friday" comes "CyberMonday".

• Position: Shopping Season

With gas prices moderating and three in four homes nationwide connected to the Internet, in-store and online holiday sales will ring up significant increases this year, predicts retail specialist Richard Feinberg of the Institute and Center for Customer-Driven Quality at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. "The outlook is very positive for retailers this holiday shopping season, but that is especially true for e-holiday retailing," he says. "Online sales will increase at least 20% this year compared to last year."

Feinberg maintains that online sales will grow from $20,000,000,000 in 2005 to $24,000,000,000 in 2006. Traditional retail holiday shopping nationwide is expected to reach $450,000,000,000 or better, or between four-six percent more than 2005. Feinberg thinks online shopping will constitute as much as eight percent of all holiday shopping, and free shipping will be a popular tool for retailers to attract as many customers as possible. "A recent national survey shows 70% of consumers indicate that free shipping is a deciding factor for them," he notes.

At retail outlets, merchandisers will lead with discounts and then offer other enticements to bring shoppers back again...