European Online Retail Traffic Picks Up In Recent Weeks But Remains Below Year-Ago Levels

London (ots/PRNewswire) -

- comScore Releases Review of Holiday Retail Traffic Trends in
U.K., France and Germany

comScore, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital
world, today released the first in a series of reports examining
visitation to online retail sites in the U.K., France and Germany
during the Christmas shopping period. The study monitored the total
number of visitors to online retail sites during November and
compared average weekly visitor data to a pre-season base period of
September and October. The study also examined traffic to the leading
online retail sites in each market, comparing current weekly
visitation data against the corresponding weeks of last year's
shopping season.

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Online Retail Visitation Picks Up in November

In both the U.K. and Germany, the Christmas shopping season
appears to be well underway, with visitation to online retail sites
up 10 percent and 11 percent respectively in November compared to the
base period average. Christmas shopping in France traditionally
begins a bit later in the year and the 2008 season is no exception,
with French retail site visitor growth up just 6 percent through the
final week of November.

Christmas Online Shopping Uptake*
% Growth in Total Visitors to Online Retail Sites in
November 2008 vs. Weekly Base Period Average**
U.K., France & Germany
Source: comScore World Metrix, 2008***
Base Period Index (Sept 1 - Nov 2) U.K. France Germany
Week 1 (Nov 3 - Nov 9) 13% 8% 10%
Week 2 (Nov 10 - Nov 16) 13% 5% 10%
Week 3 (Nov 17 - Nov 23) 10% 6% 15%
Week 4 (Nov 24 - Nov 30) 3% 6% 10%
November Average 10% 6% 11%
*% change represents the change in the number of visitors to online
retail sites compared to the pre-Christmas season base period average.
**Derived from the average weekly visitors to a pre-determined sample of
leading online retail sites for the period Nov 3 - Nov 30.
*** Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or
access from mobile phones or PDAs.

Although the onset of the Christmas shopping season in November
sparked increased online retail visitation when compared to September
and October, the year-over-year trends tell a different story. Most
top retail sites have experienced declines in visitors versus year
ago, providing some perspective on the severity of this year's
economic conditions.

Top 5 U.K. Retail Properties

While there was 10 percent growth in traffic to U.K. retail sites
in the first four weeks of November compared to the base period,
visitation to online retail sites is down 10 percent compared to the
same period last year, with traffic losses for each of the big 5
online retailers. The most popular property was online auction
site-eBay, followed by Amazon Sites and Apple Inc.

Growth Rates for Top 5 Retail Sites in the U.K.
Ranked by Average Weekly U.K. Visitors
(000)* during First Four Shopping Weeks
of Christmas Holiday Season**
Source: comScore World Metrix, 2008
% Change % Change in
in Average Average
Weekly Weekly
Visitors Visitors
Versus Versus
2008 Base Corresponding
Period Weeks
U.K. Average Last Year
Retail 10% -10%
eBay 9% -20%
Amazon Sites 28% -21%
Apple Inc. 8% -8%
Home Retail Group 49% -16%
Tesco Stores 21% -28%
* Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access
from mobile phones or PDAs.
**Derived from the average weekly visitors to a pre-determined sample of
leading online retail sites for the period Nov 3 - Nov 30.

Top 5 French Retail Properties

In France, visitation to online retail sites declined at the
comparatively slower rate of 2 percent versus a year ago, with some
of the more popular destinations showing positive growth, including
Apple Inc. (up 7 percent versus last year), and Otto Gruppe (up 2
percent versus last year). The most visited property was eBay, which
increased total visitors by 9 percent in November compared to the
base period, followed by two French properties, Groupe PPR (up 21
percent on the base period) and Priceminister.com (up 26 percent).

Growth Rates for Top 5 Retail Sites in France
Ranked by Average Weekly French Visitors
(000)* during First Four Shopping Weeks
of Christmas Holiday Season**
Source: comScore World Metrix, 2008
% Change % Change in
in Average Average
Weekly Weekly
Visitors Visitors
Versus Versus
2008 Base Corresponding
Period Weeks
France Average Last Year
Retail 6% -2%
eBay 9% -3%
Groupe PPR 21% -6%
Groupe PriceMinister 26% N/A
Apple Inc. 9% 7%
Otto Gruppe 4% 2%
* Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access
from mobile phones or PDAs.
**Derived from the average weekly visitors to a pre-determined sample of
leading online retail sites for the period Nov 3 - Nov 30.

Top 5 German Retail Properties

In Germany, visitation to online retail sites was down 7 percent
versus a year ago, despite the highest uptick in visitors during the
November shopping period (11 percent) of any of the three European
markets studied. The most visited retail site in Germany, eBay, saw
the number of visitors climb 8 percent in November relative to the
base period, while two German properties, Arcandor AG (owner of sites
such as Quelle.de and Neckermann.de) and Otto Gruppe, ranked second
and third, respectively. Apple Inc. defied the downwards trend versus
a year ago, growing 10 percent, while also showing a 22 percent gain
over the base period.

Growth Rates for Top 5 Retail Sites in Germany
Ranked by Average Weekly German Visitors
(000)* during First Four Shopping Weeks
of Christmas Holiday Season**
Source: comScore World Metrix, 2008
% Change % Change in
in Average Average
Weekly Weekly
Visitors Visitors
Versus Versus
2008 Base Corresponding
Period Weeks
Germany Average Last Year
Retail 11% -7%
eBay 8% -18%
Arcandor AG 18% N/A
Otto Gruppe 28% -10%
Amazon Sites 21% -15%
Apple Inc. 22% 10%
* Excludes traffic from public computers such as Internet cafes or access
from mobile phones or PDAs.
**Derived from the average weekly visitors to a pre-determined sample of
leading online retail sites for the period Nov 3 - Nov 30.

"With consumer confidence low and disposable income tight, this
is looking like being a tough season for retailers," said comScore
chairman, Gian Fulgoni. "However this is a notoriously resilient
industry, and the retail markets appear to be showing signs of life
in Europe as Christmas shopping season kicks into high gear. With the
recent tax cuts announced by Gordon Brown in the U.K. and similar
initiatives planned in France and Germany, it will be interesting to
see if Governments and retailers can restore consumer confidence and
inspire increased spending in the run-up to Christmas."

About comScore

comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR) is a global leader in measuring the
digital world and preferred source of digital marketing intelligence.
For more information, please visit www.comscore.com/boilerplate

ots Originaltext: comScore Networks
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Contact:
Jamie Gavin of comScore, Inc., +44-(0)-207-099-1775,
worldpress@comscore.com. Photo:
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