The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the third quarter of 2005, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, was $22.3 billion, an increase of 5.7 percent (±1.7%) from the second quarter of 2005. Total retail sales for the third quarter of 2005 were estimated at $957.9 billion, an increase of 1.8 percent (±0.3%) from the second quarter of 2005. The third quarter 2005 e commerce estimate increased 26.7 percent (±4.5%) from the third quarter of 2004 while total retail sales increased 8.5 percent (±0.5%) in the same period. E-commerce sales in the third quarter accounted for 2.3 percent of total sales.

On a not adjusted basis, the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the third quarter of 2005 totaled $20.8 billion, an increase of 5.1 percent (±1.7%) from the second quarter of 2005. The third quarter 2005 e-commerce estimate increased 26.4 percent (±4.5%) from the third quarter of 2004 while total retail sales increased 8.6 percent (±0.5%) in the same period. E-commerce sales in the third quarter of 2005 accounted for 2.2 percent of total sales.                 Source: U.S. Census Bureau