Commerce Dept: Online Sales Reach $29.3B in Q4

March 1, 2007

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U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2006 totaled $29.3 billion, an increase of 6.3 percent from the third quarter of 2006, according to estimates from the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce. That total is adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.

The fourth quarter 2006 e-commerce estimate is an increase of 24.6 percent from the fourth quarter of 2005; total retail sales increased 4.6 percent in the same period. E-commerce sales in the fourth quarter of 2006 accounted for 3.0 percent of total retail sales, estimated at $990.8 billion, or a decrease of 0.2 percent from the third quarter of 2006.

On a not-adjusted basis, the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2006 totaled $33.9 billion, an increase of 32.2 percent from the third quarter of 2006 and an increase of 25.0 percent from the fourth quarter of 2005. E-commerce sales in the fourth quarter of 2006 accounted for 3.3 percent of total retail sales.

Total e-commerce sales for 2006 were estimated at $108.7 billion, an increase of 23.5 percent from 2005, whereas total retail sales in 2006 increased 5.8 percent from 2005. E-commerce sales in 2006 accounted for 2.8 percent of total retail sales. E-commerce sales in 2005 accounted for 2.4 percent of total retail.

Quarterly retail e-commerce estimates will be revised, the Census Bureau said, based on the results of the 2005 Annual Retail Trade Survey. Unadjusted and adjusted estimates will be revised for fourth quarter 1999 through fourth quarter 2006. Revised data are scheduled for release in May.