Online Activity Plays Increasing Role in Retail Sales

Brick-and-mortar retail sales influenced by consumers’ online browsing and research are expected to increase by a compounded annual growth rate of 12 percent over the next five years, according to a recent report by JupiterResearch. Offline sales influenced by online research will reach 40 percent of all U.S. retail sales by 2011. Other data released by the survey:

* U.S. online retail sales will plateau at 10 percent to 15 percent of total retail sales;
* U.S. online retail sales will grow by 16 percent in 2007, reaching $116 billion; and
* Online sales will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11 percent through 2011, reaching $171 billion.

Source: JupiterResearch’s “US Online Retail Forecast, 2006-2011,” http://www.jupiterresearch.com/bin/item.pl/press:press_release/2007/id=07.01.16-online_retail_forecast.html