Online Internet retail sales in the United States dropped in the first three months of 2004, but their rise in the same period a year ago suggests buyers are looking to the Net more than ever, the Commerce Department has announced.
E-tail dropped 11.4 percent, to $15.52 billion from January through March, compared to $17.51 from October through December, Commerce said, while cautioning that their reporting isn't adjusted for seasonal factors and the first quarter normally drops because of the comedown following the winter holidays.
Commerce said e-tail held its steady rate of 1.9 percent of all retail, however, with Internet sales rising gradually from 0.7 percent of all retail since the federal government began tracking and publishing such information in 1999.
Excluding selling event tickets, travel, financial services, and adult entertainment, Commerce also said all retail dipped 8.5 percent from the fourth quarter 2003 to the first quarter 2004, but rose 8.8 percent over the first quarter of 2003.
