EcommerceBytes-NewsFlash, Number 2931 - November 08, 2012 
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Ecommerce Grows 15 Percent in Q3, Approaching $42 Billion
By David A. Utter
Another sign of economic recovery showed itself in the world of ecommerce. Metrics firm comScore said third quarter 2012 US retail ecommerce spending hit $41.9 billion.
That figure represented a 15 percent year-over-year gain in online sales, excluding auctions, autos, and large corporate purchases. Q3 2011 saw ecommerce spending of $36.3 billion, in comparison.
More importantly, comScore's numbers show a pattern of consistent growth. This quarter would be the twelfth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth. It's also the eighth consecutive quarter of double digit growth too.
“Such performance offers some optimism as we approach the holiday season, especially given recent improvements in consumer sentiment," said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni.
ComScore cited the following product categories as top performers: Digital Content & Subscriptions, Consumer Electronics, Event Tickets, Apparel & Accessories, and Computer Software, with each category growing at least 16 percent year-over-year.
The placement of digital content and subscriptions also mirrors similar activity seen in Europe. A recent report from research firm Forrester said paid content revenue in Europe is poised to grow by 65 percent by 2017, rising 8 to 12 percent per year from 2012 onward. At that rate, 2017 European paid content revenue would be over $13 billion dollars.
Forrester cited "proliferation of connected devices, crackdowns on piracy, and the increasing popularity of subscription-based models such as Spotify and Netflix" as driving this growth.
About the Author
David A. Utter is a freelance writer based in Lexington, KY. Find him on Twitter @davidautter and on LinkedIn.
About the author:
David A. Utter is a freelance writer based in Lexington, KY. He has covered technology topics from search to security to online business and has been quoted in places like ZDNet and BusinessWeek. He considers his appearance on NPR's "All Things Considered" with long-time host Robert Siegel a delightful highlight. Send your tips to media@davidautter.com and find him on Twitter @davidautter and on LinkedIn.
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