Report: Online Spending Finally Up

9 Feb, 2010 By: Chris Tribbey

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Bucking a four-quarter run of negative or flat e-commerce sales, the fourth quarter of 2009 saw online retail spending of $39 billion, an increase of 3% over the same period of 2008, according to data from online research firm comScore.

The fourth-quarter boost wasn’t enough to lift overall 2009 online retail spending above 2008, however, with the 2009 total at $129.8 billion, slightly down from the $130.1 billion of 2008.

“The fourth quarter helped end what has been a disappointing year for online consumer spending,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “As we head into 2010, there is reason for guarded optimism for online retail spending to continue to gain share of consumers’ wallets.

“At the same time, I expect absolute growth to be stymied by continued high unemployment and the de-leveraging that is occurring in the economy as consumers exercise their new-found propensity to save.”

The research firm will discuss highlights of its report Feb. 11.

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