• May 27, 2008

Online retail spending was up a healthy 15% in April compared to the same period last year, according to new comScore data. By contrast, U.S. e-commerce grew by just 9% year-over-year in March.

"While the e-commerce growth rates in 2008 are softer than what we saw last year, it's encouraging that April's growth rate represented an increase from what was obviously a soft March for online consumer spending," said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni in a statement. "One hopes that April will emerge as the beginning of a turnaround in the consumer economy and that spending will continue to accelerate as we move through the year and as the impact of the government's economic stimulus tax rebate program begins to be felt."

Earlier comScore data showed $32.8 billion in online retail spending for the first quarter of 2008--including auction fees and autos, but excluding event tickets. The U.S. Department of Commerce estimated the number to be $32.4 billion.

--Gavin O'Malley