Comscore Forecasts 16 Percent Growth to $61 Billion in 2014 U.S. Holiday E-Commerce Spending on Desktop and Mobile

2014 Holiday Desktop E-Commerce Expected to Reach $53.2 Billion, While Mobile Commerce Expected to Hit $7.9 Billion

Q3 2014 Posts Strong Desktop Online Spending with $53.9 Billion in Sales

Reston, VA, November 18, 2014 – Comscore (NASDAQ : SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today reported its official spending forecast for the November-December 2014 holiday season, as well as desktop retail e-commerce spending for Q3 2014. The official Comscore 2014 holiday season forecast is that total online retail spending for the November–December period will reach $61.0 billion, representing a 16-percent gain versus year ago. Spending using desktop computers for that period is expected to reach $53.2 billion, up 14 percent year-over-year, which is 4 percentage points higher than last season’s 10-percent growth rate. Mobile commerce is predicted to account for $7.9 billion of retail spending, representing 13 percent of total digital commerce and growing at an annual rate of 25 percent vs. last season.

Holiday Season Forecast (Nov-Dec)
Online Non-Travel (Retail) Holiday Consumer Spending
Excludes Auctions and Large Corporate Purchases
Total U.S. – Home & Work Desktop Computers, Smartphones & Tablets
Source: Comscore, Inc.

Millions ($)

2013

2014

Percent Change

Total Digital Commerce

$52,828

$61,027*

16%*

Desktop E-Commerce

$46,545

$53,154*

14%*

Mobile Commerce

$6,283

$7,873*

25%*

* Forecast

“The 2014 online holiday shopping season is shaping up to be a bright one with more than $61 billion in spending expected, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 16 percent across desktop, smartphones and tablets,” said Gian Fulgoni, Executive Chairman Emeritus of Comscore. “Although some lasting effects of the great recession still provide some overhang on the economy, many of the latest indicators point toward signs of optimism for consumer spending during the holidays. Negative economic sentiment is at a five-year low, the stock market is near all-time highs, and inflation has been kept in check. The one negative is that real wages for many middle-class Americans have not grown and in fact may have declined slightly. That said, the recent trends we’ve seen in online consumer spending suggest that American consumers are ready to open their wallets and embrace the spirit of giving this holiday season.”

Comscore Historical U.S. Desktop E-Commerce Spending by Quarter
Comscore today also released its estimates of Q3 2014 U.S. desktop e-commerce sales. Q3 2014 saw desktop spending rise 13 percent year-over-year to $53.9 billion, marking the twentieth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and sixteenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth. It also represented a rebound of 3 percentage points from the 10-percent growth rate in Q2 2014.

Q3 2014 m-commerce spending on smartphones and tablets added $6.7 billion for the quarter, up 17 percent vs. year ago, for a digital commerce spending total of $60.6 billion in the quarter.

Desktop-Based Retail E-Commerce Growth Rates
Excludes Auctions, Autos and Large Corporate Purchases
Total U.S. – Home & Work Locations (excl. Mobile)
Source: Comscore, Inc.

Quarter

E-Commerce Spending ($ Millions)

Y/Y Percent Change

Q1 2008

$31,178

11%

Q2 2008

$30,581

13%

Q3 2008

$30,274

6%

Q4 2008

$38,071

-3%

Q1 2009

$31,031

0%

Q2 2009

$30,169

-1%

Q3 2009

$29,552

-2%

Q4 2009

$39,045

3%

Q1 2010

$33,984

10%

Q2 2010

$32,942

9%

Q3 2010

$32,133

9%

Q4 2010

$43,432

11%

Q1 2011

$38,002

12%

Q2 2011

$37,501

14%

Q3 2011

$36,308

13%

Q4 2011

$49,698

14%

Q1 2012

$44,282

17%

Q2 2012

$43,153

15%

Q3 2012

$41,936

15%

Q4 2012

$56,781

14%

Q1 2013

$50,180

13%

Q2 2013

$49,843

16%

Q3 2013

$47,468

13%

Q4 2013

$63,084

11%

Q1 2014

$56,101

12%

Q2 2014

$54,810

10%

Q3 2014

$53,864

13%

Recently compiled figures for October 2014 desktop e-commerce spending showed a 14-percent year-over-year growth rate to $18.8 billion, signaling a continuing positive trend in spending growth from the middle of the year.

About Comscore
Comscore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in digital measurement and analytics, delivering insights on web, mobile and TV consumer behavior that enable clients to maximize the value of their digital investments. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/companyinfo.

Contact:
Adam Lella
Comscore, Inc.
+1 (312) 775-6474
press@comscore.com