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NEW YORK - Shoppers spent a bit more in early November, raising retailers' spirits about the holiday season right before it kicks into high gear.

NEW YORK - Shoppers spent a bit more in early November, raising retailers' spirits about the holiday season right before it kicks into high gear.

Early discounting on everything from TVs and sweaters as well as free shipping deals helped pull in shoppers in the first two weeks of November. Spending on clothing, boots and luxury goods showed strong increases from the same time a year ago, according to MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse, which includes transactions in all forms, including cash.

Deep discounting on flat-panel TVs because of a glut brought shoppers into stores to buy but kept spending on electronics about flat with a year ago. Home furnishings sales were dragged lower by the struggling housing market.

Online, the average order value was about $198, up more than 10 percent from last year, but the number of items put in electronic shopping carts - an average of six - was the same.

Another reason for merchants to feel better? Jewelry sales, which typically heat up only in the last 10 days before Christmas but have been depressed since the Great Recession, have been sparkling.

Still, the big question is whether this momentum will continue or will just siphon away sales from Black Friday and the rest of the season.

Regardless, merchants are in a better place than they were a year ago, when the early discounts failed to pull in shoppers.