For the third consecutive quarter, U.S. retail e-commerce recorded year-over-year growth, with online retail spending reaching $32.9 billion in the second quarter, comScore reports.
The 9-percent growth is encouraging, particularly after a year of flat or negative growth rates. But optimism is somewhat restrained by lingering doubts about an economic recovery anytime soon.
"The second quarter's continuation of the first quarter's strong retail e-commerce growth rates is encouraging," says comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni. "We remain cautiously optimistic heading into the second half of the year, but we will be keeping a close eye on unemployment rates, which along with potential uncertainty in the stock market could limit growth in e-commerce spending in the near term."
One positive sign comScore notes is the growth of "upper-income households," those earning at least $100,000 annually. The number of these households grew 17 percent from the same period a year ago. Economy.com reports that affluent shoppers account for almost half of overall consumer spending.
While this group pulled back on spending in July, online spending among all shoppers rose 10.9 percent compared to July 2009, according to MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse.
Auctiva staff writers constantly monitor trends and best practices of those selling on eBay and elsewhere online. They attend relevant training seminars and trade shows and regularly discuss the market with PowerSellers and other market experts.
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