Online orders grow 54% over prior year in week before July 4

Online orders for the week ending June 29 were up 54% over the corresponding week a year earlier while sales were up 51%, BizRate.com Inc. reports. Orders for the week totaled 6.2 million vs. 4 million a year ago. Sales reached $838.1 million up from $553.7 million a year earlier. The average purchase was virtually unchanged at $135.12, down 1% from $137.11 a year ago.

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Year-to-date orders are up 40% over year-earlier levels, reaching 188.6 million from 135.1 million. Year-to-date sales increased 46% to $23.4 billion from $16 billion a year earlier. The average purchase was up 5% to $124.26 from $118.89.

Categories with the highest growth in sales for the week are Food & Wine, up 115% vs. a year ago, Gifts & Flowers, up 77%, and Office Supplies, up 76%. Slowest growth was recorded at Sports & Outdoor gear, up 32%, Apparel, up 32%, and Computer Software, up 25%.