U.S. online retail sales may break $200 billion barrier

After a modest start to the year, U.S. online consumer spending is back on the increase. The second quarter of 2007 has seen overall online consumer spending exceed $47 billion, an increase of 23 percent on the same quarter last year.

by Helen Leggatt

comscore%20logo.gif In Q1, 2007, year-on-year growth in U.S. online consumer spending was just 17 percent. New figures from comScore, released this week, show that Q2 has recovered somewhat and is matching the growth rates seen in previous years, with a year-on-year online sales growth of 23 percent.

Sales of consoles and video games saw the biggest gains with a 159 percent rise in sales on Q2, 2006, no doubt aided by new console releases from major players. Other categories experiencing sales increases over Q2, 2007, include sports and fitness (58 percent), consumer electronics (51 percent) and event tickets (44 percent).

Based on the results for the first half of 2007, overall U.S. online consumer spending is on target to reach $200 billion by year end. Overall U.S. online consumer spending for 2006 totalled $170.8 billion.

"However, in the past, we've seen growth rates accelerate as the year progresses, culminating with the online holiday shopping season, so $200 billion may actually turn out to be a conservative estimate," said Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore.

And, while on the subject of the impending holiday season, now is a good time to be reviewing last year’s campaign results and planning this year’s programmes.