Audience Recommendations for Every Vertical
Season Features Early Start and a Strong Finish
Larger Retailers Outperform Smaller Ones
Consumer Electronics Category Shows Strongest Growth
RESTON, VA, December 30, 2009 – Comscore (NASDAQ : SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today reported retail e-commerce spending for the holiday season from November 1 through Christmas Eve. During this period, approximately $27 Billion was spent online, which represents an increase of 5 percent over the same period a year ago. For the period from Black Friday through Christmas Eve, and after adjusting for the additional shopping day in 2009, sales grew by approximately 3.5 percent.
2009 Holiday Season vs. 2008Non-Travel (Retail) SpendingExcludes Auctions and Large Corporate PurchasesTotal U.S. – Home/Work/University LocationsSource: Comscore, Inc.
Millions ($)
2008
2009
Percent Change
November 1 – December 24
$25,845
$27,121
5%
Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 26)
$288
$318
10%
Black Friday (Nov. 27)
$534
$595
11%
Cyber Monday (Nov. 30)
$834
$887
Green Monday (Dec. 14)
$859
$854
-1%
Tuesday, Dec. 15
$754
$913
21%
Weekend of Dec 19 – 20 (winter storm)
$677
$767
13%
*Individual days and weekends are compared to corresponding shopping days in 2008
“Following last year’s disappointing performance when sales fell by 3 percent, the e-commerce sector saw a positive 2009 holiday shopping season with sales up by 5 percent,” said Comscore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “Online sales growth this year was driven by a continued increase in the number of people buying online, but consumers’ economic challenges resulted in a slight decline versus last year in the amount spent per buyer. The season featured a strong start as a result of early retailer promotions and a very strong finish helped by the snow storms that occurred the weekend of Dec 19 – 20, retailers’ willingness to offer free shipping later in the season, and consumers’ confidence in expedited shipping arriving in time. This was also a year when retailers substantially boosted their use of social network marketing and the larger retailers significantly outperformed their smaller brethren. In these tough economic times, the retailers with sufficient financial resources and a willingness to invest in aggressive marketing and free shipping offers were clear winners. In terms of individual product categories, consumer electronics saw particularly strong sales growth of slightly over 20 percent, while jewelry and watches also turned in a strong performance, but which followed a very weak 2008 season.”
About ComscoreComscore, 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.
PressBill DaddiDaddi Brand Communications646-370-1341press@comscore.com