The Census Bureau just released new data on E-commerce sales for the third quarter of 2010, here are some highlights:
1. As a share of total retail sales in the third quarter ($978.7 billion), E-commerce sales ($41.5 billion) reached a new record high of 4.2% (see chart). That compares to about a 2% share in 2004 and 1% in 2000.
2. E-commerce sales of $41.5 billion in the third quarter of 2010 was the first time U.S. consumers spent more than $40 billion shopping online in a three-month period, and was also a new record for quarterly E-commerce sales.
3. Compared to the third quarter last year, E-commerce sales this year were up by 13.6% vs. an increase of 6% for total retail sales over the same period.
4. Online shopping increased by 4% in the third quarter compared to the second quarter, vs. a 0.8% increase for all retail sales.
