US online retail spending reached an estimated $32.1 billion in the third quarter of 2010, up 9% from $29.6 billion a year earlier, and the fourth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth following a year of flat or negative growth rates, according to data from comScore.

Key e-commerce-related findings:

  • The top-performing online product categories were books and magazines (excluding digital downloads); computers, peripherals, and PDAs; computer software (excluding PC games); and consumer electronics.
  • The top 25 online retailers accounted for 70% of online spending, up 5.5 percentage points from a year earlier.
  • Online "pureplay" retailers accounted for 58% of online spending, while multi-channel retailers accounted for the remaining 42%, unchanged from the previous year.
  • 41% of online retail transactions included free shipping, down marginally from the previous year.

"Retail e-commerce growth in the third quarter remained solid at 9%, a fairly positive indicator for the upcoming holiday season," said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni. "However, we continue to preach caution due to the continuation of high unemployment, which is creating very divergent spending patterns between the 'haves' and the 'have nots.'"

"Until the economy begins adding jobs at a meaningful rate, the lack of spending power among consumers will continue to be a drag on purchasing, with many consumers indicating their intention to cut back on gift buying this holiday season."


Looking for great digital marketing data? MarketingProfs reviewed hundreds of research sources to create our most recent Digital Marketing Factbook (May 2010), a 296-page compilation of data and 254 charts, covering email marketing, social media, search engine marketing, e-commerce, and mobile marketing. Also check out The State of Social Media Marketing, a 240-page original research report from MarketingProfs.


Retailers' 2010 Holiday Forecast Mixed

Holiday retail sales in 2010 will likely be stronger than they were in 2009—but modestly so, according to ForecastIQ data from Prosper Technologies.

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