A window to fresh profits

Google has launched Google Holiday Shopping, which aggregates top product searches for certain categories.

"To find the season's most wanted gifts, Santa's elves mined millions of recent Google Product Search queries to put together some of the most popular products people are searching for," the site reads. Categories include Video Games & Toys, Cold Weather and Specialty Foods. "Bakugan," "peacoat" and "chocolate fountain" top each respective list.

Across all categories, "Nintendo Wii" was most sought, followed by "Wii Fit" and "iPod touch."

Users that click on an item are sent to a dedicated Google product page. In the style of price comparison sites, destinations where the product is being sold are listed by descending price point. Listings are flanked on two sides by contextually relevant Google ads. Users can also taper results by location, price range, brand, store, seller rating and related searches.

An example of the iPod touch page:

A separate tab invites buyers to take advantage of special offers, including site-exclusive discounts. Buyers that use Google Checkout — as opposed to better-known rival PayPal, owned by e-commerce site eBay — save an additional $5-$20 on select labels, including Starbucks, HBO and Petco, until December 17.

The move, a spin-off of Google Product Search, formerly Froogle, marks an aggressive foray into e-commerce for Google. Holiday Shopping appeals to "recession buyers" more likely to shop online — the better to scour for deals — than visit brick-and-mortar retailers.

A recent survey found sales resulting from comparison sites, such as Google's Holiday Shopping destination, are turning a significant profit in the face of this economy.