E-commerce sales taking off in Italy, Spain

Online sales are growing faster in Italy and Spain than in the United Kingdom, the leader in European retail e-commerce, Forrester Research reports.

Retail e-commerce sales in Italy and Spain to increase at cumulative annual growth rates of 31% and 27%, respectively, from 2006 to 2011, compared to 12% for the UK, Forrester says in a series of “eCommerce Forecast” reports.

Forrester cites the leading category of online sales in Spain as event tickets, followed in order of consumer interest by books, CDs/tapes/records, clothing, computer software/video games, sporting goods, groceries, computer hardware, videos/DVDs, beer/wine/spirits, cosmetics/beauty products, footwear, domestic appliances, toys, cars, health products and household goods/furniture.

In Italy, the leading category is books, followed in order by event tickets, computer software/games, computer hardware, CDS/tapes/records, video/DVDs, footwear, cosmetics/beauty products, groceries, beer/wine/spirits, household goods/furniture, sporting goods, health products, toys, cars and domestic appliances.

The leading category in the U.K. is books, followed by CDs/tapes/records, event tickets, computer software/video games, footwear, groceries, toys, sporting goods, computer hardware, health products, domestic appliances, household goods/furniture, cosmetics/beauty products, beer/wine/spirits, and cars.

A more detailed review of these statistics is included in the November issue of Internet Retailer.