Online retail sales in the US increased by 30% in the fourth quarter of 2003, according to new figures from comScore Media Metrix.
The information firm estimates that $17.21 billion was spent on US shopping sites in the three months to the end of December. This figure includes event tickets but excludes auctions, car sales and large corporate purchases. By the same reckoning, $13.28 billion was raised in the equivalent period in 2002.
When travel sales are taken into account, it is calculated that online retail revenues totalled $27.25 billion in the final quarter of 2003, up from $20.72 billion a year earlier.
