US$43.2bn in Q2 2012 US retail e-commerce spending
This represents the eleventh consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit growth.
| Retail E-Commerce (Non-Travel) Growth Rates Excludes Auctions, Autos and Large Corporate Purchases Total US - Home & Work Locations (Source: comScore, Inc) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quarter | E-Commerce Spending (US$ Millions) | Y/Y Percent Change |
| Q1 2007 | US$27,970 | 17% |
| Q2 2007 | US$27,176 | 23% |
| Q3 2007 | US$28,441 | 23% |
| Q4 2007 | US$39,132 | 19% |
| Q1 2008 | US$31,178 | 11% |
| Q2 2008 | US$30,581 | 13% |
| Q3 2008 | US$30,274 | 6% |
| Q4 2008 | US$38,071 | -3% |
| Q1 2009 | US$31,031 | 0% |
| Q2 2009 | US$30,169 | -1% |
| Q3 2009 | US$29,552 | -2% |
| Q4 2009 | US$39,045 | 3% |
| Q1 2010 | US$33,984 | 10% |
| Q2 2010 | US$32,942 | 9% |
| Q3 2010 | US$32,133 | 9% |
| Q4 2010 | US$43,432 | 11% |
| Q1 2011 | US$38,002 | 12% |
| Q2 2011 | US$37,501 | 14% |
| Q3 2011 | US$36,308 | 13% |
| Q4 2011 | US$49,698 | 14% |
| Q1 2012 | US$44,282 | 17% |
| Q2 2012 | US$43,153 | 15% |
"While the second quarter's 15% growth rate couldn't quite match the especially high growth rate from the first quarter, it was nevertheless almost four times higher than the growth in overall consumer spending, a sign of continued strength in the e-commerce channel," said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. "That said, although e-commerce remains strong, we are taking a cautious view of the second half of the year in light of some renewed signs of economic uncertainty and a stubbornly high unemployment rate. In fact, consumer perception of the economy has recently deteriorated, with 56% now viewing economic conditions as poor, up from a level of 49% three months ago. So, even as commerce increasingly shifts to the online channel, any significant future pullback in overall consumer spending could dampen the strong double-digit growth rates we've been experiencing for the year-to-date."
Other highlights from Q2 2012 include:
• The top-performing online product categories were: Digital Content & Subscriptions, Consumer Electronics, Flowers, Greetings & Gifts, Computer Hardware and Apparel & Accessories. Each category grew at least 16% vs. year ago.
• 42% of e-commerce transactions included free shipping, representing a seasonal pullback from the Q4 2011 high of 52%.