comScore put out new findings indicating that desktop-based e-commerce in the U.S. has grown 12% versus the same period last year.
According to the firm’s estimates for Q1 2014 U.S. digital commerce sales, desktop e-commerce spending reached $56.1 billion during the quarter. That’s actually the eighteenth consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth and the fourteenth of double-digit growth.
That’s not to say mobile commerce isn’t contributing significantly. M-commerce spending from smartphones and tablets added $7.3 billion for the quarter, growing by 23% versus a year ago. That brings the grand total for digital commerce spending in the U.S. to $63.4 billion for the quarter by comScore’s figures.
“Q1 e-commerce and m-commerce spending growth have seen a modest acceleration versus the fourth quarter, which is a positive sign in light of overall softness in consumer discretionary spending across the broader U.S. economy during the early part of the year,” said comScore chairman emeritus Gian Fulgoni. “As we look ahead to the remainder of 2014, we hope that signs of improved consumer sentiment and a strengthening job market will help further bolster digital commerce. In addition, with several key consumer tech product upgrade cycles and new product introductions expected in the back of the year, there would appear to be continued momentum for the market throughout the year barring any unforeseen economic troubles.”
According to comScore, the top-performing product categories were Apparel & Accessories, Consumer Packaged Goods, Sport & Fitness, Digital Content & Subscriptions, and Home & Garden. Each of these grew by 13%.
Desktop e-commerce specifically accounted for 11.7% of consumers’ discretionary spending, which comScore says is the highest quarter on record.
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