U.S. retail e-commerce sales increased 23 percent in the third quarter to $28.4 billion, compared with the same period last year, with jewelry and watches as one of the top-gaining categories, according to ComScore Inc.

“Online retail spending continues to grow at rates in excess of 20 percent year-over-year, which suggests that the market is still far from maturity,” ComScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni said in a media release. “Even online travel commerce, which is a more developed market, continues to experience double-digit gains.”

Video games, consoles and accessories continues to be the hottest e-commerce retail category, nearly tripling its online sales in the third quarter from last year on the strength of Nintendo Wii- and Sony PlayStation 3-related sales. Consumer electronics was the second-fastest growing category (up 58 percent), with high-definition and flat-screen TVs behind the increase.

Jewelry and watches, up 21 percent, was the ninth top-gaining online retail category.

During the first nine months of 2007, total e-commerce spending surpassed $143 billion, putting it on pace to reach $200 billion by the end of the year. Retail e-commerce accounted for nearly $84 billion, or 58 percent of the total, while online travel spending came in just shy of $60 billion.

Source: Nationaljeweler.com
www.nationaljeweler.com