Online retail sales climbed an estimated 39% in the 2002 Christmas
season compared with 2001, but the poor economy and the threat of
war with Iraq apparently caused a last-minute slowdown.
"At the very tail end - the week or so leading up to Christmas - we
did see... the growth rates slow quite a bit compared with last
year," said Dan Hess, a vice-president at comScore Networks. In the
2001 Christmas shopping season, there was a last-minute online
spending surge that was not duplicated this year, he added.
Overall, comScore estimated that consumers spent $74bn (£46bn)
online shopping in 2002, up 39% on last year. The total includes
retail spending as well as spending for online travel
accommodation.
In the fourth quarter of 2002, consumers spent about $13.8bn
(£8.7bn) online, 27% more than in the same period in 2001,
according to comScore. Overall, online retail sales alone amounted
to an estimated $43bn (£27bn) in 2002, which is about 5% of the
high-street sales.
More consumers shopped online, with about 10 million people a week
shopping online in the fourth quarter - a jump of 32% over 2001.
Experienced online shoppers also spent 37% more than in 2001,
according to comScore, spending about 50% more than
first-timers.
Clothing sales increased, while music CDs, books and consumer
electronics - all leading online sellers in the past - had
"lacklustre" sales.
Online sales of home and garden items, small appliances and
jewellery also increased. "They're bellwethers [that show that]
people are considering this is a place to buy a broad range of
products," Hess said.