(IDEX Online) - Online sales of jewelry in the US were up almost 45 per cent this year compared to last.That's according to an end-of-year report by Mastercard SpendingPulse, which measures overall retail sales across all payment types, including cash and check. Total retail jewlery sales fell by just over four per cent, as the pandemic hit bricks and mortar revenue, but e-commerce rose by 44.6 per cent.The rise in digital sales of jewelry is among the biggest of all sectors, second only to home improvements, which have enjoyed a direct boost from lockdowns.The drop in overall sales was more modest than all other sectors listed - apparel, department stores, electronics and appliances, furniture and furnishings, grocery, home improvement, aln luxury goods.Across all sectors e-commerce accounted for 19.7 per cent of retail sales in 2020, up from 13.4 per cent in 2019.