comScore Reports Q3 2009 U.S. E-Commerce Spending Down 2 Percent vs. Year Ago

Press Release

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42 Percent of E-Commerce Transactions in Q3 Included Free Shipping

comScore to Host Webinar on Q3 2009 E-Commerce Review and Forecast for 2009 Holiday Season on Thursday, November 12

RESTON, VA, November 5, 2009 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its Q3 2009 retail e-commerce sales estimates, which showed that U.S. online retail spending totaled $29.6 billion, down 2 percent versus year ago. Q3 2009 represents the first time on record that consecutive quarters have seen negative e-commerce spending growth compared with the same quarter the year prior.

Retail E-Commerce (Non-Travel) Growth Rates Excludes Auctions, Autos and Large Corporate Purchases Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations Source: comScore, Inc.
Quarter	Y/Y Percent Change
Q1 2007	17%
Q2 2007	23%
Q3 2007	23%
Q4 2007	19%
Q1 2008	11%
Q2 2008	13%
Q3 2008	6%
Q4 2008	-3%
Q1 2009	0%
Q2 2009	-1%
Q3 2009	-2%

“The third quarter showed negative marginal growth for the second consecutive quarter – the first time on record we’ve witnessed sustained dips in U.S. e-commerce spending, small though the declines may be,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “The good news is that these declines may finally be in our rear view mirror, as we anticipate marginally positive growth for the fourth quarter. With retailers gearing up for the online holiday shopping bonanza, and a fourth quarter that will include easier comparisons against year ago, we are hopeful that this Christmas season will be merrier than the last.”

Join Mr. Fulgoni as he presents an update of the state of the U.S. online retail economy through Q3 2009 in a live webinar on Thursday, November 12 from 2 - 3 p.m. EST/1 - 2 p.m. CST/11 a.m. - noon PST. Webinar registration details are below.



Free Shipping a Must-Have Incentive for Retailers in 2009 Holiday Season

Over the past few years, free shipping has become a particularly critical incentive for stimulating online purchase behavior, and its importance has increased considerably during the recent economic downturn. The past several quarters have seen the percentage of e-commerce sales transactions including free shipping increase from 31 percent in Q1 2008 to 42 percent in Q3 2009.

E-Commerce Free Shipping Analysis Q1 2008 – Q3 2009 Total U.S. – Home/Work/University Locations Source: comScore, Inc.
	Share (%) of E-Commerce Transactions
	Free Shipping	Paid Shipping
Q1 2008	31%	69%
Q2 2008	34%	66%
Q3 2008	35%	65%
Q4 2008	38%	62%
Q1 2009	37%	63%
Q2 2009	43%	57%
Q3 2009	42%	58%

“Free shipping has become an increasingly essential promotion in the e-commerce marketer’s toolkit,” added Mr. Fulgoni. “With more than 40 percent of all e-commerce transactions now including free shipping, it’s clear that consumers respond favorably to this incentive and in many cases have come to expect it from retailers. The retailers who do not offer free shipping deals this holiday season may find themselves at a significant disadvantage versus those who do.”



Webinar Series: State of the U.S. Online Retail Economy through Q3 2009

The webinar presentation will include an overview of changes in consumers’ online spending patterns through Q3 2009 (with a preview of October 2009 e-commerce spending), survey findings that highlight consumer sentiments regarding the economy in 2009, as well as an analysis of spending patterns across key product categories, retailer sectors and consumer demographic segments. The webinar will also include a forecast of the critical 2009 holiday online shopping season.

To register for the webinar, please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/408403728



About comScore

comScore, 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.



Contact:

Andrew Lipsman

Director, Marketing Communications

comScore, Inc.

+1 312 775 6510

press@comscore.com