(Source: PRNewswire-FirstCall)
RESTON, Va., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- comScore, Inc. , a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its Q2 2009 retail e-commerce sales estimates, which showed that U.S. online retail spending totaled $30.2 billion, down 1 percent versus year ago. Q2 2009 represents only the second quarter on record where e-commerce spending has been lower than the same quarter the previous year.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080115/COMSCORELOGO) Retail E-Commerce (Non-Travel) Growth Rates Excludes Auctions, Autos and Large Corporate Purchases Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations Source: comScore, Inc. ---------------------- Quarter Y/Y Percent Change ------- -------------------- Q1 2007 17% ------- -- Q2 2007 23% ------- -- Q3 2007 23% ------- -- Q4 2007 19% ------- -- Q1 2008 11% ------- -- Q2 2008 13% ------- -- Q3 2008 6% ------- -- Q4 2008 -3% ------- -- Q1 2009 0% ------- -- Q2 2009 -1% ------- --
"The marginally negative growth in Q2, on the heels of flat growth in Q1, signals that online retail spending has yet to turn the corner after a disappointing end to last year," said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "Unfortunately, it appears that the reality of nearly 10-percent unemployment and rising gas prices, coupled with an increased savings rate, continues to hold down consumers' discretionary spending and it may still take some time to dig our way out of this recession."
Join Mr. Fulgoni as he presents an update of the state of the U.S. online retail economy through Q2 2009 in a live webinar on Thursday, August 20 at 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT. Webinar registration details are below.
Fastest Growing Product Categories in Q2 2009
The fastest-growing category in Q2 2009 versus year ago was Toys & Hobbies, which grew 21 percent, followed by Books & Magazines (up 17 percent), and Video Games, Consoles & Accessories (up 15 percent).
