E-commerce future in figures

According to recent surveys during upcoming 5 years e-commerce will develop very fast and retail sales in US are expected to take off: it will grow annually on about $20 billion to $30 billion and by 2012 will reach, at least, $215 billion. The highest level is $335 billion. In view of 2007 indexes demonstrated 21% increase over 2006 these predictions don't seem so fantastic.

Forrester Research Inc in its report "U.S. E-Commerce Forecast: 2008 to 2012" cites the following figures: online retail sales will reach $204 billion in 2008, $235.4 billion in 2009, $267.8 billion in 2010, $301 billion in 2011, and $334.7 billion in 2012. Jupiter Research LLC in its "U.S. Online Retail Forecast, 2007-2012" has presented decent numbers: in 2008 non-travel-related e-commerce will reach $148 billion, $166 billion in 2009, $182 billion in 2010, $199 billion in 2011, and $215 billion in 2012.

Though these numbers impress the statistics shows that customers prefer real stores leaving virtual shopping as  seasonabley. So, retails are faced the problem how to improve their activity and to increase the traffic and online sales. Now they need to take some steps to ensure their Web sites are more conducive to browsing. Also retailers should widely use up-to-date technologies and provide with more information on their goods. Flexibility in payment and returns are also a good tool to attract online customers.

Aynny, reporter of Ecommerce Journal