Online Consumer Spending to Hit $170 Billion in 2006
Online non-travel (“retail”) spending increased
23% to $23.1 billion, while travel spending was up 9% to reach $18.2 billion
in the 3rd quarter of 2006, according
to comScore Networks. Overall, total online spending by consumers reached $41.3 billion in the third quarter,
an increase of 16% versus the same period in 2005.
|
comScore U.S. Online Consumer Spending ($ Billions) |
||||
| Q3 2006 | Q1-Q3 2006 | Q1-Q3 Y/Y Growth | 2006 Est. | |
| Non-Travel | $23.1 | $69.1 | 24% | $100.0 |
| Travel | $18.2 | $52.9 | 13% | $70.0 |
| Total Online Sales | $41.3 | $122.1 | 19% | $170.0 |
| Source: comScore Networks. Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases | ||||
Among the retail categories, 3rd quarter
online sales of Consumer Electronics (excluding PC Peripherals) rose 42% and Apparel &
Accessories increased 32% versus the same quarter last year. The Sport & Fitness and Computer Software (excluding PC games) categories
also rose 29% and 27%, respectively. Online sale of event tickets rose
22%.
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.
