New data released by comScore revealed a strong first quarter for U.S. desktop-based retail e-commerce, with apparel and accessories topping the list.
Desktop e-commerce spending in Q1 2014 increased 12 percent year-over-year to $56.1 billion, marking the eighteenth consecutive quarter of positive growth and fourteenth consecutive quarter of double-digit growth, the report noted.
M-commerce, or spending on smartphones and tablets, tacked on an additional $7.3 billion for the quarter–a 23 percent increase from one year ago. Digital commerce totaled $63.4 billion in Q1.
comScore chairman emeritus Gian Fulgoni said, “Q1 e-commerce and m-commerce spending growth have seen a modest acceleration versus the fourth quarter, which is a positive sign in light of overall softness in consumer discretionary spending across the broader U.S. economy during the early part of the year.”
Apparel and accessories led as the top-performing online product category, followed by consumer packaged goods, sport and fitness, digital content and subscriptions, and home and garden. Each category increased at least 13 percent from last year, the report revealed.
Several consumer tech product upgrade cycles, coupled with the launch of new tech gadgets scheduled for the back end of the year, are expected to keep the momentum high, comScore noted, barring any unforeseen economic troubles.