eMarketer has recently released their report forecasting their opinion on the future of e-Commerce in the wake of current market conditions. More information on how to obtain the eMarketer Report can be accessed by clicking this link. Here's a brief overview:"Although consumers are reacting to the economic downturn by spending less, this will create more of a hardship for retail stores than for e-tailers. A drop in new online buyers—an inevitable sign of the maturation of the online retail channel—will contribute most to the decline of e-commerce sales growth.
The US Retail E-Commerce report charts and analyzes the factors that are contributing to the changing dynamics in online sales. Consumers are reacting to the economic slowdown by cutting back on discretionary spending.
However, store sales will be hit harder than Internet sales because affluent shoppers, who form the core of online buyers, tend to ride out economic downturns better than lower- and middle-income consumers. Some consumers even plan to increase online spending to save gas money or find bargains. eMarketer estimates that US retail e-commerce sales (excluding travel) will reach $146 billion in 2008, up 14.3% over 2007."
