More data is in regarding the state of online retail sales last year—and the latest confirms the first year-over-year quarterly decline in e-retailing’s history. Online sales in the fourth quarter were down 4.9% from Q4 the year before, to $37.07 billion from $38.99 billion, the U.S. Department of Commerce reported today. Total retail sales fell even more, however, by 8.6% to $980.13 billion from $1,072.15 billion a year earlier.
For the year, online sales totaled $133.58 billion, up 4.6% from 2007, while total retail sales decreased 0.6%.
These figures are on a not-adjusted basis. Adjusted for when holidays fall and the total number of buying days, online sales in the fourth quarter 2008 decreased 5.5% from the fourth quarter of 2007 while total retail sales decreased 9.1%.
The latest numbers from the Commerce Department, which are based on surveys of retailers, confirms comScore Inc.’s earlier reported decline in Q4 of 3% and full year growth of 6%. ComScore bases its numbers on observing the shopping behavior of consumers who voluntarily allow comScore to monitor their Internet activity. Neither organization counts retail-equivalent sales at eBay Inc.
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