US e-retail sales have climbed 23 pct in a year
The comScore report on US e-commerce spending for Q2 2007 showed that non-travel (i.e. retail) e-commerce grew by 23pct compared to one year ago, reaching some US$27.2 billion.
Over the same period, online travel spending increased by only 14pct to USD 20.3 billion, and total US e-commerce spending climbed an average of 19pct to reach USD 47.5 billion during the year. fmansilla This article is copyright 2007 TheWiseMarketer.com).
E-retail rebounding
According to Gian Fulgoni, chairman for comScore, “Retail e-commerce rebounded solidly in the second quarter after a modest start to the year. After posting 17pct growth year-on-year in Q1 2007, retail e-commerce sales grew by 23pct year-on-year in Q2 2007, continuing to match the growth rates seen over the past couple of years.”
The top-gaining e-commerce category in Q2 2007 was video games, consoles & accessories, which jumped by 159 pct on the strength of Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 sales. Sport & fitness also saw substantial gains (up 58 pct), followed by consumer electronics (up 51pct ) and event tickets (up 44pct ).
US e-spending forecast
Total US online consumer spending reached USD 170.8 billion in 2006, with non-travel spending accounting for USD 102.1 billion of that. Based on the first-half growth rates for 2007, total US online consumer spending is forecast to reach a milestone of USD 200 billion in 2007.
“Even factoring in the moderate growth rates from Q1 2007, we are currently on target to break the USD 200 billion mark in 2007,” explained Fulgoni. “However, in the past, we have seen growth rates accelerate as the year progresses, culminating with the online holiday shopping season, so the USD 200 billion forecast may even turn out to be a conservative estimate.”
