info from trendwatching.com
In the US, ecommerce is expected to reap sales of USD 259 billion this year, representing an 18% gain over 2006. The online retail industry still only accounts for 7% of total retail sales, excluding travel. But certain categories represent a much higher percentage, like computers, where online sales make up 44% of the total. The food and beverage category, by contrast, represents only 1%. (Source: Shop.org.)
Forrester estimates that in the US, almost USD 400 billion of store sales — or 16% of total retail sales — are directly influenced by the web as consumers research products online and purchase them offline. This will expand at a 17% compounded annual growth rate over the next five years, resulting in more than USD 1 trillion of store sales by 2012.
In the UK, online shopping sales exceeded GBP 4 billion a month for the first time in July 2007. On a 12-month basis, online sales are up 36%. (Source: Brand Republic.)
South Korea's ecommerce sales soared more than 26% in 2006, thanks to increased spending on children's goods, fashion and sports-related items. Combined ecommerce transactions reached 13.45 trillion won (USD 14.29 billion). (Source: Yonhap.)
