Reston, Va. – U.S. retail e-commerce sales hit a record
$43.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010, up 11% from the same period a year
ago, according to a report from comScore.
Some 84% of U.S. Internet users
conducted an online transaction during the quarter, up from 78% the previous
year, and the average buyer spent about the same amount online as they did in
2009.
The firm said the fourth quarter showed the fifth consecutive quarter of
positive year-over-year growth, and second quarter of double-digit growth rates
in the past year.
The top-performing online product categories — each of which grew
at least 15% in the fourth quarter — were computer software (excluding PC
games); consumer electronics, books and magazines (excluding digital
downloads); computers; and toys and hobbies.
"The 2010 holiday season saw the first billion-dollar
day on record and several more surpassing $900 million to help propel Q4 to
record spending levels," said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni.
"We
anticipate that the progress we’ve seen in the past year as we climbed out of
the recession will continue with sustained double-digit growth rates in
2011."
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