Online Sales Expected to Grow 17 Pct In 2008

Despite the bum economy, Internet retail sales will rise 16.6 % in 2008 to $204 billion, about the same rate of growth as in 2007, according to the latest annual study by Forrester Research. That’s way above the 3.5% growth in overall retail sales predicted for 2008 by the National Retail Federation. The biggest online categories: apparel (due to rise by $3.9 billion, or 17%), computers (up $3.2 billion, or 15%) and autos (up $2.5 billion, or 15%).

Of course, “e-tailing,” despite becoming more and more prevalent over the last few years, still accounts for less than 5% of the overall retail market in the U.S. The relatively small dollar base all but assures double-digit annual growth.

Hitwise Give Google 67% of US Searches in March 2008

Google Inc. received 67% of all U.S. Internet searches during the four weeks ended March 29, according to information service Hitwise.

Google received 64% of all U.S. Internet searches in the same period a year earlier.

 

Yahoo Inc.’s search engine received 20% of U.S. Web searches in the more recent period, while Microsoft Corp.’s MSN Search drew 7% and Ask.com 4%.

 

The remaining 46 search engines in Hitwise’s search engine analysis tool accounted for about 2% of searches in the U.S.