Target, JCPenney and Wal-Mart Online Retail Leaders

ComScore Networks released updated statistics for online shopping, and the clear winners in the retail category are Target, JCPenney and Wal-Mart, besting well-know leaders eBay and Amazon. Visitation to Select Multi-Channel and Online Retailers

• While visitation to Web sites in the retail category rose 7 percent in November versus year ago, many of the most well-known names in retail are experiencing double-digit traffic increases, as shoppers flock to shop online.
• Mirroring the trends observed during recent years, the Web traffic increases experienced by multi-channel retailers, including Target (up 48 percent), JCPenney (up 38 percent) and Wal-Mart (up 35 percent), are surpassing the largest onlineonly merchants.

“We appear to be seeing a fundamental shift in the way consumers shop online,” said John Miniati, comScore Networks. “Driven by aggressive promotions and an increased selection of online product offerings from traditional retailers, consumers are responding positively. As a result, many multi-channel merchants are now growing their online shopper base significantly faster than their online-only counterparts.”

Non-Travel Online Consumer Spending on Track for 24 Percent Increase

Year-to-Date (through Dec. 4) online sales totaled 59 million in 2004. This year sales have already reached 72.9 million, an increase of 24 percent over last year.