U.S. Retail E-Commerce Growth Rates Soften in May and June

Video Games, Consoles & Accessories Ranks as the Hottest Retail Category in Q2
versus Year Ago

RESTON, Va., July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- comScore, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released its Q2
2008 retail e-commerce data, which showed that while year-over-year growth
rates rebounded slightly in April (up 15 percent) after a soft March, they
slowed again in May (up 12 percent) and June (up 11 percent). Nonetheless,
total U.S. online retail sales (excluding travel) reached approximately $31
billion in Q2 2008. comScore CEO Magid Abraham and comScore Chairman Gian
Fulgoni will discuss these data and other relevant e-commerce insights during
the second installment of their quarterly webinar series, State of the U.S.
Online Retail Economy, on Wednesday, August 6 at 3 p.m. ET (webinar details
below).

Retail E-Commerce Growth Rates
Excludes Auctions, Autos and Large Corporate Purchases
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore, Inc.
Y/Y Percent
Month Change
Jun-07 25%
Jul-07 22%
Aug-07 28%
Sep-07 19%
Oct-07 19%
Nov-07 20%
Dec-07 18%
Jan-08 12%
Feb-08 14%
Mar-08 9%
Apr-08 15%
May-08 12%
Jun-08 11%

"With the first round of the government's economic stimulus checks having
been mailed in early May, one would have hoped they would have bolstered
online spending in May and June," said comScore Chairman Gian Fulgoni.
"However, recent comScore research reveals that fully two thirds of consumers
said they had not planned to spend their stimulus checks and rather intended
to use the cash to pay off debt or put the money into savings, a finding we'll
be taking a closer look at during next week's webinar. In addition, it's
likely the impact of the stimulus may have been felt more offline, where a
variety of merchants made it particularly easy for consumers to cash their
checks at retail stores."
Video Games, Consoles & Accessories Remains a Hot Category
Video Games, Consoles & Accessories remains one of a handful of high-
performing online retail categories, rising 73 percent in Q2 2008 versus the
same quarter year ago on the strength of consoles like the Nintendo Wii.
Furniture, Appliances & Equipment (up 65 percent) was another top performer,
while Home & Garden (up 23 percent), Event Tickets (up 22 percent), and Sport
& Fitness (up 21 percent) also performed significantly better than the
average. Alternatively, categories like Flowers, Greetings & Miscellaneous
Gifts, Jewelry & Watches, Computers, Peripherals & PDAs, Toys & Hobbies, and
Music, Movies & Videos all experienced declines versus last year.

Growth in Retail e-Commerce Consumer Spending in Q2 2007 vs. Q2 2008
Total U.S. - Home/Work/University Locations
Source: comScore, Inc.
Percent Change
Q2 2007 vs. Q2 2008
Product Category
Total Retail Category (Excludes Travel) 13%
Video Games, Consoles & Accessories 73%
Furniture, Appliances & Equipment 65%
Home & Garden 23%
Event Tickets 22%
Sport & Fitness 21%
Consumer Electronics (excluding PC Peripherals) 5%
Apparel & Accessories 13%
Flowers, Greetings & Misc. Gifts -10%
Jewelry & Watches -10%
Computers, Peripherals & PDAs -11%
Toys & Hobbies -11%
Music, Movies & Videos -20%

Webinar Series: State of the U.S. Online Retail Economy The webinar
presentation will include an overview of changes in consumers' online spending
patterns from 2007 through the second quarter of 2008, survey findings that
highlight consumer sentiments regarding the economy, an analysis of spending
patterns across key product categories, retailer sectors and consumer
demographic segments and an overview of the impact of search and comparison
shopping sites on e-commerce spending.
To register for the free webinar being held on August 6 at 3 p.m. ET,
please visit: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/319303917.
About comScore
comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the digital
world. For more information, please visit http://www.comscore.com/boilerplate.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080115/COMSCORELOGO)
SOURCE comScore, Inc.

Andrea Vollman of comScore, Inc., +1-312-775-6646, press@comscore.com