14 DAY TRIAL // In the second quarter of 2008, video games, consoles and game-related accessories were Americans' favorite items when it came to online shopping. This industry developed the most, the growth rate being of 73%, which is 60% more than the total increase of online purchases. Americans also proved that they had taken a fancy for furniture, appliances and equipment. 65% more people decided to purchase such products using their computers, comparing the second semester of 2008 with the corresponding period of 2007.
On the other hand, as comScore, the company that conducted the study, shows, music, movies and videos purchases decreased the most from April to June. 20% more people than last year prefer cinemas and classical stores to buying from online stores. Also, reading into the expansion of online games and accessories purchases, Americans seem to turn to alternative types of fun.
Computers, peripherals and PDAs also turned into products that people think are best acquired from specialized stores. Whether it is because of more confidence or promptitude of delivery, 11% of the Americans stopped buying electronic products from online shops. In view of the fact that neither toys nor hobby items proved to be popular products with online shoppers, the conclusion can only be that the second quarter of 2008 was a time when Americans either thought more of their work, or went for other types of entertainment.
The average year-over-year change in the percentage of people who bought products online was a boost of 11%, which further confirms the fact that 2008 is not the year of online shopping. Although the number of online shoppers continued to increase constantly, the rate of development was slower. In 2007, the peak growth was in August, with a 28% year-over-year increase. This year, April was the most auspicious month for this industry, but the sales still did not manage to increase with more than 15% compared with last year.