Online retail spending fell four percent in the first weeks of November from the same period last year, the first ever such decline in e-commerce spending.

According to online researcher comScore, $8.2 billion was spent online during the first 23 days of November, four percent less than during the same period last year, when $8.5 billion US dollars was spent.

ComScore thinks that online retail spending for the November-December holiday period will be flat versus year ago. ComScore chairman Gian Fulgoni said that despite the recent reprieve that plummeting gas prices have given American consumers, the depressed and volatile stock market, declining housing prices, inflation and the weak job market all represent dark clouds hanging over their heads this holiday shopping season.

He said that with consumer confidence low and disposable income tight, the first weeks of November have been very disappointing, with online retail spending declining versus year ago. Last year online retail spending during the January-October period grew by nine percent to $102.1 billion.