3Q Online Retail Sales Up 21% over Last Year

Washington, DC, November 20, 2006–The Census Bureau says that the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the third quarter of 2006, was $27.5 billion, an increase of 4.5 percent from the second quarter of 2006.

Total retail sales for the third quarter of 2006 were estimated at $991.7 billion, an increase of 0.7 percent from the second quarter of 2006. The third quarter 2006 e commerce estimate increased 20.9 percent from the third quarter of 2005 while total retail sales increased 5.1 percent in the same period. E-commerce sales in the third quarter of 2006 accounted for 2.8 percent of total sales.

On a not adjusted basis, the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the third quarter of 2006 totaled $25.6 billion, an increase of 3.4 percent from the second quarter of 2006.

The third quarter 2006 e-commerce estimate increased 20.4 percent from the third quarter of 2005 while total retail sales increased 4.8 percent in the same period. E-commerce sales in the third quarter of 2006 accounted for 2.6 percent of total sales.