Online retail sales hit their holiday shopping stride in mid-November and are still climbing, according to the leading research firms that track Internet retail sales. Data for the first three weeks of November indicated that on online sales of "nontravel" goods totaled $4.5 billion, an increase of 29% over the same period of time in 2001. Strongest Internet sales growth was recorded in the categories of wearing apparel (increase of 50%), toy sales (up 72%) and jewelry sales (up 83%). Analysts attribute part of the growth to the "e-tailers" offering free shipping, early seasonal online promotions and sales, and more careful inventory management. One analyst reported that online sales for this year's entire holiday season, predicted to be about 27%, will likely reach the 30%-35% range.