Online Holiday Sales 25% Better Than Last Year Last week's Brief on the Holidays was the "whys" of expectations. Here's the latest "whats" from the current comScore Networks
release of its forecast of online consumer spending for the 2004 holiday season. comScore reports that consumer spending on non-travel goods at U.S. Web sites will exceed $15 billion during the
November through December holiday season, representing growth of approximately 23% to 26% over the 2003 season. comScore also expects that total quarterly non-travel spending will cross the $20
billion threshold for the first time in Q4 2004.
Non-Travel Online Consumer Spending
| | 2003 (bil$) | 2004 (bil$) | % Change |
| Year-to-date (through Oct 17) | $38.7 | $48.2 | 25% |
| Holiday Season (Nov/Dec) | $12.3 | $15.1-15.5* | 23-26%* |
| Q4 2004 | $16.7 | $20.7-21.1* | 24-26%* |
| Full Year | $52.9 | $65.8-66.2* | 25%* |
Source: comScore Networks
*comScore Networks forecast (Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases)
Dan Hess, senior vice president of comScore Networks, says "We believe
consumers' growing familiarity and confidence with online shopping, coupled with a dramatic increase in broadband penetration and continuing efforts by retailers to simplify the shopping process
across channels, will translate to substantial gains for online merchants again this year."
Fastest Growing Product Categories Year-to-Date through September
| 2003(mil$) | 2004(mil$) | % Change |
| Jewelry & Watches | $443 | $739 | 67% |
| Furniture, Appliances & Equipment | $1,083 | $1,707 | 58% |
| Computer Software (ex. PC Games) | $857 | $1,228 | 43% |
| Flowers, Greetings & Misc Gifts | $782 | $1,118 | 43% |
| Home & Garden | $1,058 | $1,352 | 28% |
Source: comScore Networks (Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases)
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