Usa: upturn in online sales

According to a survey by Forrester Research sponsored by the Shop.org website, in 2005 online sales in the US will grow by 22% compared to 2004 and will reach 172 billion dollars (the increase was 24% in 2004 and 51% in 2003).

The main item in Internet sales 2005 will still be tourism (62.8 billion dollars, +20%), but cosmetics (+33%), jewelry and luxury items (+28% and a total of 3.2 billion dollars) and flowers (+30%) are beginning to have considerable success.

Online sales not linked to tourism will total 110 billion dollars, an average increase of 5.5%. The US Department of Commerce valuates online sales not linked to tourism at around 2.5% of total retail sales in America.

Important Department Stores in the luxury sector, such as Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus, have also recorded a considerable increase in their online sales. The Forrester report has also revealed the growing role played by online advertising and by search engines.

(Source: Ice)