E-commerce: Growth to Slow Down, Survey Estimates

E-commerce sales will hit $131 billion this year, according to an eMarketer estimate from earlier this month. What’s more, the online research firm estimates that annual compound growth for retail e-commerce sales will slow down to 17.5 percent annually for the years 2006 through 2011, compared to 24.7 percent growth from 2003-2005. Existing online buyers, however, will fuel growth by spending more online. The following compound annual growth rates from the eMarketer survey follow.

* online shoppers: 3.2 percent (2006-2011); 7.9 percent (2003-2005)

* online buyers: 3.5 percent (2006-2011); 11.8 percent (2003-2005)

* Internet users: 2.7 percent (2006-2011); 6.7 percent (2003-2005).

For more information, go to www.emarketer.com .