U.S. Online Retail Sales +12% in 1Q14

RAPAPORT...  U.S. online retail sales as measured through desktops rose 12 percent year on year to $56.1 billion in the first quarter that ended on March 31, according to comScore Inc. Sales that were conducted through a mobile device rose 23 percent to $7.3 billion.  Top-performing categories during the period were apparel and accessories, consumer packaged goods, sport and fitness, digital content and subscriptions, and home and garden, all of which experienced at least a 13 percent increase compared with the first quarter of 2013.

Desktop ecommerce accounted for 11.7 percent of consumers’ discretionary spending, which comScore stated was the highest share on record.

“First-quarter ecommerce and mobile commerce spending growth has 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,” said comScore's chairman emeritus, Gian Fulgoni. “As we look ahead to the remainder of 2014, we hope that signs of improved consumer sentiment and a strengthening job market will help further bolster digital commerce. In addition, with several key consumer tech product upgrade cycles and new product introductions expected in the back of the year, there would appear to be continued momentum for the market throughout the year barring any unforeseen economic troubles.”