Retailers' online sales grow by double digits

0 Comments | USA TODAY, May, 2006 | by Mindy Fetterman

Consumers are becoming more comfortable with using the Internet, and that has led to rising retail sales online.

Online sales will top $200 billion this year, up 20% from 2005, according to the National Retail Federation's online division, Shop.org. That's nearly double what online sales were just three years ago.

Online sales are projected to be $211.4 billion in 2006 vs. $176.4 billion in 2005.

"This is the real growth engine for the retail industry overall," says Scott Silverman, executive director of Shop.org. Retail sales are growing 3% a year, vs. double-digit growth online.

The rate of growth is slowing somewhat, however. Sales jumped 51% in 2003 from 2002, 24% in 2004 and 25% in 2005.

Travel is by far the largest type of product...