The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce reported that the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the first quarter of 2004, not adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, was $15.5 billion, an increase of 28.1% (±2.9%) from the first quarter of 2003.

Total retail sales for the first quarter of 2004 were estimated at $834.8 billion, an increase of 8.8 percent (±0.6%) from the same period a year ago, the commerce department reports.

The first quarter 2004 e-commerce estimate decreased 11.4% (±1.9%) from the fourth quarter of 2003 while total retail sales decreased 8.5% (±0.3%) from the prior quarter, the commerce department reports.

E-commerce sales in the first quarter of 2004 accounted for 1.9% of total sales, while in the first quarter of 2003 e-commerce sales were 1.6% of total sales, the commerce department reports. In the fourth quarter of 2003, e-commerce sales were also 1.9% of total sales.

JCK