Retail E-Commerce Up 23 percent in Q2, Reaches $95B in First Half

Retail e-commerce (non-travel) grew 23 percent in the second quarter, reaching $27.2 billion from $22.2 billion in the second quarter of 2006, while online travel spending increased 14 percent to $20.3 billion, according to comScore’s report on US e-commerce spending for the second quarter of 2007, writes MarketingCharts.

Total US e-commerce spending climbed 19 percent in Q2, reaching $47.5 billion, comScore said.

“Retail e-commerce rebounded solidly in the second quarter after a modest start to the year,” said Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore. “After posting 17 percent growth versus year ago in Q1, retail e-commerce sales grew 23 percent year-over-year in Q2, matching the growth rates we’ve seen during the past couple of years.”

The top-gaining e-commerce category in Q2 was videogames - consoles & accessories, which jumped 159 percent from the year-earlier period, driven by the strength of Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 sales.

Sport & fitness also made substantial gains (58 percent), followed by consumer electronics (51 percent) and event tickets (44 percent).

Based on the first-half growth rates, total US online consumer spending is on track to reach $200 billion in 2007, comScore said. In 2006, total US online consumer spending reached $170.8 billion, with non-travel spending accounting for $102.1 billion and travel spending accounting for $68.8 billion.

“Even factoring in the moderate growth rates from Q1, we’re currently on pace to break $200 billion in e-commerce spending in 2007,” said Fulgoni. “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.”