Online Sales Jump 10.3 Percent in 4th Quarter
Online retail spending in 2013’s fourth quarter rose 10.3 percent compared to a year ago, according to IBM’s Digital Analytics Benchmark report for 2013. Department stores saw the biggest gains with sales up 62.8 percent, followed by home goods with 46.4 percent, health and beauty with 14.7 percent, and apparel with 10.2 percent. Growth was largely driven by smartphones and tablets, which accounted for 35 percent of online traffic in the fourth quarter, a 40 percent increase from the same time in 2012. Mobile devices also accounted for 16.6 percent of online sales, up 46 percent from 2012. Smartphones accounted for twice as much traffic as tablets, although tablet shoppers spent more per order. Apple devices generated far more sales than Android devices, with iPhones and iPads responsible for 22.1 percent of total traffic and 12.7 percent of online sales, with their users spending an average of $115.42 per order. Meanwhile, Android devices accounted for 10.6 percent of traffic and 2.6 percent of online sales, while Android users spent $83.56 on average per order.
From “Online Sales Rise 10.3 Percent Year Over Year in Q4”
Internet Retailer (01/02/14) Dusto, Amy