Jupiter: Online retail could bring $65 billion in 2004

Jupiter predicts that e-tail sales could swell to $65 bil this year, representing a 24% increase over 2003. The study also foresees increasing online retail sales through 2008, with an estimated growth rate of 17% per year. Based on that prediction, the e-tail market would total over $117 bil in five years' time. Despite that growth, the online sector would still represent only about 5% of total U.S. retail sales. However, Jupiter concludes that online activity will also continue to increase its influence as a catalyst for offline sales, with almost 30% of in-store retail purchases being influenced by Internet-based research by 2008.