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E-Tailing and its Prospects: Great Expectations Reconsidered

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  • Jeffrey Mayer

Abstract

This paper attributes slower than predicted growth in e-commerce retailing to four factors: consumer resistance; the ability of traditional retailers to become multi-channel sellers; prudent official survey and classification practices; and perhaps the limited range of �pure-play� business models (i.e., retail models that rely mainly on electronic sales). Based on responses to the Census Bureau�s Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) in the five fourth quarter periods from 2001 to 2005, the paper finds that e-commerce has claimed a small but rapidly growing share of U.S. retailing markets; and that pure play companies are still important drivers of this process. However, it also finds that the capacity of pure-play companies to continue in this role may be nearing its limits, and that the rate of continued growth in e-commerce retailing may depend on the business decisions of large, multi-channel sellers. Qualified researchers can access MRTS-based quarterly e-commerce data for 2001-2005 at the Census Bureau�s Regional Data Centers.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey Mayer, 2006. "E-Tailing and its Prospects: Great Expectations Reconsidered," Working Papers 06-16, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    • Handle: RePEc:cen:wpaper:06-16
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    File URL: https://www2.census.gov/ces/wp/2006/CES-WP-06-16.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2006
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    Keywords

    e-commerce; retailing; pure-play retailing; Monthly Retail Trade Survey;
    All these keywords.

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