Retailers Stock Up On E-Commerce Sales; Q4 Online Sales Up 22%; Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Target among the chains attracting gains on Web.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Publication: Investor's Business Daily

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Investor's Business Daily, Inc.

Byline: BRIAN DEAGON

U.S. online shopping sales surged 22% to $18.4 billion in the fourth quarter vs. the year-earlier quarter, fueled by a strong performance by large retail chains that have stepped up their Web presence.

For the year, e-commerce sales rose 23.5% to $69.2 billion, according to U.S. Commerce Department figures released Thursday. Since the department began measuring the e-commerce category in 2001, year-over-year quarterly sales growth has always exceeded 20%.

Still, e-commerce sales are just 2% of overall retail sales, which the Commerce...

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