What are the most popular products sold online?

Top Online Categories

Here are the details from a recent National Retail Federation press release (Shop.org):

After speeding past the $100-billion mark just three years ago, online sales will top $200 billion this year. According to The 2006 State of Retailing Online, the ninth annual Shop.org study conducted by Forrester Research, Inc. (Nasdaq: FORR) of 174 retailers, 2006 online sales (including travel) are expected to rise 20 percent to $211.4 billion. Sales excluding travel will reach $138 billion.

The largest non-travel categories this year will include computer hardware and software ($16.8 billion), autos and auto parts ($15.9 billion), and apparel, accessories, and footwear ($13.8 billion). Pet supplies and cosmetics and fragrances are expected to experience growth rates over 30 percent, more than any other categories.

According to the report, online sales last year rose 25 percent to $176.4 billion. Excluding travel, online retail sales rose 28 percent to $113.6 billion, representing 4.7 percent of total retail sales in 2005.*

First answer by Crystal. Last edit by Spellbound-Hound. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 52 [recommend question]