Q3 online sales grow 21.5% over Q3 2003, Commerce Department reports

Online retail sales reached $17.6 billion in the third quarter, an increase of 21.5% over the $14.5 billion in Q3 last year, the Census Bureau of the U.S. Commerce Department reports. With Q3, the Census Bureau is seasonally adjusting e-commerce sales for the first time. On a non-adjusted basis, online retail sales were $16.5 billion, up 21.2% from $13.6 billion a year ago.

Total retail sales were up 6.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis in the quarter, reaching $916.5 billion. On a non-adjusted basis, total retail sales were up 6.5% to $923.4 billion.

Adjustments are made for seasonal variations and holiday and trading day differences but not for price changes.