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US Retail E-Commerce Growth Rate Rebounds in April

The year-over-year growth rate of retail e-commerce rebounded to 15% following an increase of 9% in March, according to comScore retail e-commerce data for April 2008 (excluding auctions, autos and large corporate purchases).

“While the e-commerce growth rates in 2008 are softer than what we saw last year, it’s encouraging that April’s growth rate represented an increase from what was obviously a soft March for online consumer spending,” said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni.

comScore vs. Department of Commerce Numbers

comScore said its Q1 2008 e-commerce data again accurately predicted Department of Commerce numbers.

comScore estimated $32.8 billion in online retail spending in Q1 (including auction fees and autos but excluding event tickets, in accordance with the US Department of Commerce definition of e-commerce), approximately one month before the US Department of Commerce published its estimate of $32.4 billion.

comScore said its data has been consistent with the US Department of Commerce estimates in the past 29 quarters, with an average margin of variation of less than 3%.

A review of the current trends in e-commerce and search marketing and further details on April’s retail e-commerce will be presented by comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni and comScore CEO Magid Abraham during a public webinar on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 11:00 AM EST.