Holiday E-Commerce Spending Accelerates in Most Recent Week as this Year’s Compressed Shopping Season Increases Urgency to Spend

Sales Since Cyber Monday Up 7 Percent Versus Year Ago

RESTON, VA, December 10, 2008 – Comscore (NASDAQ : SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today reported its tracking of holiday season retail e-commerce spending for the first 37 days of the November – December 2008 holiday season. For the holiday season through December 7, $15.63 billion has been spent online, essentially the same level compared to the corresponding days last year. During the first week since Cyber Monday (December 1 – December 7), sales totaled $4.45 billion, up 7 percent versus year ago.

2008 Holiday Season To Date vs. Corresponding Days in 2007
Non-Travel (Retail) Spending
Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases
Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations
Source: Comscore, Inc.

Holiday Season to Date

Millions ($)

2007

2008

Pct Change

November 1 – December 7*

$15,624

$15,628

0%

December 1 - 7

$4,140

$4,449

7%

*Corresponding days based on equivalent shopping days relative to Thanksgiving (October 27 – December 2, 2007)

“Cyber Monday kicked off a week of modest growth in online spending, and, hopefully, reflects what will occur over the final weeks leading up to Christmas,” said Comscore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “The compressed shopping period between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year means that there is now a greater sense of urgency in order to get all of one’s shopping completed in time. With many consumers likely to rely on the convenience of online shopping in these final weeks, I hope to see this positive momentum continue as we count down the days to Christmas.”

Retailers Increase Their Use of E-Mail Marketing in 2008

An analysis of referral activity reveals that 33.4 percent of all online sales in 2008 were driven by referral activity, up slightly from 32.8 percent in 2007. Referral activity typically reflects retailers’ marketing activities which provide consumers with relevant information on prices and discounts. While search remains the dominant referral activity, accounting for 55 percent of referred dollar sales during the season-to-date, it is down slightly from 57 percent last year. Meanwhile, e-mail has accounted for 16 percent of referred dollars, up 5 percentage points from last year, reflecting retailers’ heavier use of e-mail marketing programs this season. Comparison shopping sites and coupon sites also represent a larger contribution to retailers’ referred dollar sales than they did last year.

Source of Referred E-Commerce Dollars by Tactic for Week Ending December 7 vs. Corresponding Days in 2007
Non-Travel (Retail) Spending
Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases
Dec. 1 – Dec. 7, 2008 vs. Corresponding Shopping Days in 2007
Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations
Source: Comscore, Inc.

Referral Tactic

Source of Referral

e-Commerce Sales

2007

2008

Search

56.7%

54.5%

e-mail

11.0%

16.1%

Comparison Shopping

2.5%

4.7%

Coupons

1.1%

1.8%

Other Categories

28.7%

22.9%

Weekly Online Retail Spending

Members of the media interested in receiving the data behind the above chart for use in a graphical representation, please contact press@comscore.com

Comscore’s Summary of 2008 Holiday Online Retail Spending by Key Time Period

Online Non-Travel (Retail) Holiday Consumer Spending
Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases
Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations
Source: Comscore, Inc.

Millions ($)

2007

2008

Pct Change

January – October

$93,551

$102,144

9%

Comscore Holiday Season Forecast (Nov-Dec)

$29,169

$29,200**

0%**

November 27 (Thanksgiving Day)*

$273

$288

6%

November 28 (Black Friday)*

$531

$534

1%

December 1 (Cyber Monday)*

$733

$846

15%

* Versus Corresponding Shopping Day in 2007 Relative to Thanksgiving

**Forecast

About Comscore
Comscore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world and preferred source of digital marketing intelligence. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo.

Press
Bill Daddi
Daddi Brand Communications
646-370-1341
press@comscore.com

Ulteriori informazioni

e-Commerce Holiday Shopping