.Tuesday Must Read: Record Holiday Sales Continue; Craigslist Scam Hits East Bay

Stories you shouldn’t miss:

1. This year’s record-breaking holiday shopping season is not over, as consumers continue to flock to stores this week, searching for deals, AP reports. Total consumer spending this holiday season jumped 5.5 percent over last year, the biggest increase since 2006, according to MasterCard’s SpendingPulse. Total spending also topped $584 billion, surpassing the 2007 record of $566 billion. It should be a big boost to the American economy since consumer spending represents about 70 percent of US economic activity.

2. A record-breaking number of consumers also are using their smartphones to shop, the Mercury News reports. During the shopping season’s final weekend, PayPal reported a 279 percent jump in the number of purchases made through smartphones and other electronic devices. Overall, online shopping also appears to have smashed records this year. Amazon.com reported that on its top selling day, consumers purchased 13.7 million items, shattering its previous record of 9.5 million. The retailer also said its Kindle has become its single biggest all-time seller, passing the book Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

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