US E-Commerce Spending Increases 23%

Overall, total online spending by consumers reached $41.3 billion in the third quarter, representing a 16% increase versus the same period in 2005.

Whilst total non-travel spending rose 23%, some retail categories far outperformed the average, including Consumer Electronics (excluding PC Peripherals), which rose 42% and Apparel & Accessories, up 32% versus the same quarter last year.

The Sport & Fitness and Computer Software (excluding PC games) categories rose 29% and 27% respectively.

ComScore Networks says that through the first three quarters of 2006, total e-commerce spending rose 19% versus last year to $122.1 billion, buoyed by a 24% increase in non-travel spending to $69.1 billion. Online travel spending increased 13% to $52.9 billion.

Overall, comScore currently forecasts that total consumer online spending in 2006 should reach approximately $170 billion. Of that total, comScore estimates that non-travel e-commerce will break the $100 billion threshold for the first time.

Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore Networks, said: “Online consumer spending at US sites, and particularly non-travel spending, remains strong.

“With year-over-year growth rates in US online non-travel spending at about 23% in the third quarter, the web continues flexing its muscle as one of the important drivers of retail sales growth.”

At the beginning of the year, eMarketer released a report which showed that Germany was the largest e-commerce market in Western Europe (see Germany Largest e-Commerce Country In Europe).