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Internet Buying Continues To Surge
Consumers spent $80.8 billion online in the first half of the year, 20.1 percent more than in the first half of 2005, according to comScore Networks.
Excluding auctions and large corporate purchases, retail spending alone totaled $46.1 billion, an increase of 24.6 percent, while travel spending reached $34.7 billion, a 14.7 percent gain.
Top retail categories for growth included computer software (up 39 percent), sports and fitness (up 38 percent), home and garden (up 36 percent) and toys and hobbies (up 33 percent), according to comScore Networks.
"Despite the sluggishness of retail growth in general, online consumer spending remains strong," Gian Fulgoni, comScore chairman and co-founder said in a press release Wednesday.
The consulting firm expects total online spending for 2006 to arrive at about $170 billion. Of that, comScore expects non-travel spending will reach a record $102 billion, with about $24 billlion spent on non-travel purchases online during the holiday season.
