In 2008, consumers spent $142 billion online on retail goods in the U.S. However, consumers are not only purchasing books, computers, and clothing online. They are also purchasing an increasing number of services online (i.e. air travel, lodging, and stock brokerage services). For example, 23 percent of all consumers spending on travel arrangements and reservations occurred online in 2008. Almost 7 percent of all securities transactions by consumers were completed online.

The U.S. Census E-Stats reports that business to consumer e-commerce service revenues totaled $146 billion in 2008. In contrast, that’s more than the $142 billion consumers spent on retail online in 2008.

To see more e-commerce statistics, visit the U.S. Census’s data tables at: http://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/data/html/tsadjustedsales.html