Comscore has recently released figures comparing holiday spending 2007 vs. 2008 revealing that both online sales of Sports and Fitness equipment and Video Games increased and outperformed offline sales during the holiday 2008 season.

Data compared data from comScores’s overall (online and offline) consumer e-commerce spending published by MasterCard Avisors’ SpendingPulse Unit from November 1 – December 24 of 2007.

The data doesn’t lie, with comScore showing that the top growing online product category for the holiday season was Sports and Fitness, growing 18 percent yoy, with Video Games, Consoles and Accessories growing a close 14 percent.  Naturally, the top grossing platforms include the big three: Nintendo Wii, Microsoft xbox 360, and Sony’s Playstation 3.  The only other positive growth segment was apparel and accessories, which generated higher sales as a result of retailers’ price slashing and promotions, combined with bad weather across most of the country.

And while certain categories lost significant traction across the board, the silver lining is that the online component of these sales is significantly higher than their offline counterparts

• Sales of Apparel & Accessories was up four percent online, compared with a 19-21% decline in overall sales of the category.

• Electronics declined five percent online, while Home, Garden and Furniture declined 14% online. This compares with a 26% decline in overall sales of Electronics/ Appliances.

• Jewelry & Watches declined 24% online, compared with a 34% decline in overall sales of Luxury Goods (including Jewelry & Watches).

“For an online holiday shopping season that recorded a disappointing three-percent decline in sales, a positive note is that e-commerce trends outperformed overall consumer spending in several product categories, which is to say that e-commerce continued to capture an increasing share of consumers’ wallet,” said Gian Fulgoni, comScore chairman.

Related articles

• Early returns show strong holiday video game console sales

Tags: comscore, consoles, holiday shopping, holiday spending, microsoft xbox, nintendo wii, PlayStation, playstation 3, video games consoles, xbox 360

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