Holiday E-Commerce Spending Up 26% with Surge Continuing the Week Before Christmas, According to comScore
Friday, 29 December 2006
comScore Networks, a leader in measuring the digital age, has released its estimates of consumer online non-travel (retail) spending at US sites for the 2006 holiday season through Tuesday, December 26. During the first 56 days of the holiday season, total online retail spending reached $23.11 billion, marking a 26-percent increase versus the corresponding days in 2005.
Sales during the week prior to Christmas (December 18 - December 22, 2006) rose 38 percent versus the corresponding week in 2005. Importantly, year-to-date non-travel e-commerce spending surpassed the $100 billion mark for the first time ever on Saturday, December 23, 2006.
2006 Holiday Season To Date vs. Corresponding Days in 2005 Non-Travel (Retail) Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases Source: comScore Networks Billions ($) 2005 2006 Percent Change November 1 - December 26 $18.28 $23.11 26% Mon. - Fri. before Christmas (12/18 - 12/22) $1.63 $2.25 38%
"Online sales continued to show strong growth during the last week before Christmas when procrastinators were clicking with confidence," said Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore Networks. "Consumers making purchases in those final days expressed both their faith in retailers' ability to pick and pack their orders in a timely fashion and shippers' ability to drop them on recipients' doorsteps in time for Christmas."
"That online retail consumer spending for the year-to-date has surpassed the $100 billion mark is a testament to the continued growth and strength of the online marketplace," continued Mr. Fulgoni. "Retail e-commerce now accounts for approximately 7 percent of consumers' U.S. retail spending (excluding gas, autos and food), making it an important component of the total U.S. economy."
Amazon.com Ranks Highest in Online Sales during the 2006 Holiday Season to Date; "Bricks and Mortar" Retailers See Highest Percentage Increase in Sales versus 2005
Ranked by total retail sales for the holiday season through December 26, Amazon.com topped the list, followed by Dell.com, Yahoo.com and Walmart.com. An analysis of leading retailers by percentage increase in sales from 2005 to 2006 found that consumer electronics retailer Bestbuy.com achieved the greatest gains, followed by Walmart.com and Ticketmaster.com, with each of these three sites experiencing gains in excess of 50 percent.
Top Retail Web Sites, Ranked by Dollars Spent* Non-Travel (Retail) Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases 2006 Holiday Season to Date (Nov. 1 - Dec. 26) Source: comScore Networks 2006 Retail Site Sales Rank 1 Amazon.com 2 Dell.com 3 Yahoo.com 4 Walmart.com 5 Ticketmaster.com 6 JCPenney.com 7 Apple.com 8 Bestbuy.com 9 Victoriassecret.com 10 Circuitcity.com * Excludes Auction Sites Top Retail Web Sites, Ranked by Percent Increase in 2006 vs. 2005*Non- Travel (Retail) Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases 2006 Holiday Season to Date (Nov. 1 - Dec. 26) Source: comScore Networks Growth Rate Retail Site Rank ** 1 Bestbuy.com 2 Walmart.com 3 Ticketmaster.com 4 Circuitcity.com 5 Yahoo.com 6 Amazon.com 7 Victoriassecret.com 8 Apple.com 9 JCPenney.com 10 Dell.com * Excludes Auction Sites ** Versus year ago; based on largest ten retail sites in 2006 dollar sales
Sales in Jewelry & Watches Category Puts a Shine to 2006 Holiday Retail Spending
Growth in online retail sales during the 2006 holiday season has been fueled primarily by sales in high-ticket and popular gift categories. High-ticket categories experiencing gains include Jewelry & Watches (up 67 percent), Video Game Consoles (up 63 percent), and Consumer Electronics (39 percent). Popular gift categories include Video Games (up 64 percent), Event Tickets (up 55 percent), Toys (up 35 percent), Sport & Fitness (up 32 percent), and Apparel & Accessories (up 30 percent).
Fastest Growing Online Product Categories, by Dollar Growth Non-Travel (Retail) Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases Holiday Season to Date (Nov. 1 - Dec. 26, 2006) vs. Corresponding Days in 2005 Source: comScore Networks Retail Category Percent Change Jewelry & Watches 67% Video Games 64% Video Game Consoles & Accessories 63% Event Tickets 55% Consumer Electronics 39% Toys 35% Sport & Fitness 32% Apparel & Accessories 30% Weekly Online Holiday Retail Sales
Please see the comScore Web site for chart. Please contact press@comscore.com to receive this graphical representation.
comScore Networks 2006 E-Commerce Forecast Online Non-Travel Holiday Consumer Spending Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases Source: comScore Networks Billions ($) 2005 2006 Pct Change January - October $62.6 $77.5 24% Holiday Season (Nov-Dec) $19.6 $24.7* 26%* *comScore Networks forecast (revised 12-28-2006) About comScore Networks