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U.S. Retail E-Commerce Growth Rates Soften In May and June

By Andrew Redfern @ 5th August 2008 11:00 am

RESTON, VA, July 31, 2008 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its Q2 2008 retail e-commerce data, which showed that while year-over-year growth rates rebounded slightly in April (up 15 percent) after a soft March, they slowed again in May (up 12 percent) and June (up 11 percent). Nonetheless, total U.S. online retail sales (excluding travel) reached approximately $31 billion in Q2 2008. comScore CEO Magid Abraham and comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni will discuss these data and other relevant e-commerce insights during the second installment of their quarterly webinar series, State of the U.S. Online Retail Economy, on Wednesday, August 6 at 3 p.m. ET (webinar details below).
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Retail E-Commerce Growth Rates
Excludes Auctions, Autos and Large Corporate Purchases
Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore, Inc.

Month          Y/Y Percent Change
Jun-07               25%
Jul-07               22%
Aug-07               28%
Sep-07               19%
Oct-07               19%
Nov-07               20%
Dec-07               18%
Jan-08               12%
Feb-08               14%
Mar-08                9%
Apr-08               15%
May-08               12%
Jun-08               11%
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“With the first round of the government’s economic stimulus checks having been mailed in early May, one would have hoped they would have bolstered online spending in May and June,” said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni. “However, recent comScore research reveals that fully two thirds of consumers said they had not planned to spend their stimulus checks and rather intended to use the cash to pay off debt or put the money into savings, a finding we’ll be taking a closer look at during next week’s webinar. In addition, it’s likely the impact of the stimulus may have been felt more offline, where a variety of merchants made it particularly easy for consumers to cash their checks at retail stores.”

Video Games, Consoles & Accessories Remains a Hot Category
Video Games, Consoles & Accessories remains one of a handful of high-performing online retail categories, rising 73 percent in Q2 2008 versus the same quarter year ago on the strength of consoles like the Nintendo Wii. Furniture, Appliances & Equipment (up 65 percent) was another top performer, while Home & Garden (up 23 percent), Event Tickets (up 22 percent), and Sport & Fitness (up 21 percent) also performed significantly better than the average. Alternatively, categories like Flowers, Greetings & Miscellaneous Gifts, Jewelry & Watches, Computers, Peripherals & PDAs, Toys & Hobbies, and Music, Movies & Videos all experienced declines versus last year.
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Growth in Retail e-Commerce Consumer Spending in Q2 2007 vs. Q2 2008
Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore, Inc.

Product Category                                 Percent Change
                                              Q2 2007 vs. Q2 2008
Total Retail Category (Excludes Travel)               13%
Video Games, Consoles & Accessories                   73%
Furniture, Appliances & Equipment                     65%
Home & Garden                                         23%
Event Tickets                                         22%
Sport & Fitness                                       21%
Consumer Electronics (excluding PC Peripherals)        5%
Apparel & Accessories                                 13%
Flowers, Greetings & Misc. Gifts                     -10%
Jewelry & Watches                                    -10%
Computers, Peripherals & PDAs                        -11%
Toys & Hobbies                                       -11%
Music, Movies & Videos                               -20%
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Webinar Series: State of the U.S. Online Retail Economy
The webinar presentation will include an overview of changes in consumers’ online spending patterns from 2007 through the second quarter of 2008, survey findings that highlight consumer sentiments regarding the economy, an analysis of spending patterns across key product categories, retailer sectors and consumer demographic segments and an overview of the impact of search and comparison shopping sites on e-commerce spending.

To register for the free webinar being held on August 6 at 3 p.m. ET, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/319303917.

About comScore
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital world. For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/boilerplate.

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