The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce released their fourth quarter report on February 17, and the estimates look good for e-commerce businesses. Retail e-commerce sales (adjusted for seasonal variation, but not for price changes) was $44.1 billion, an increase of 5.6% over the third quarter. "Total retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 were estimated at $1,014.4 billion, an increase of 3.6 percent (±0.4%) from the third quarter of 2010."

"On a not adjusted basis, the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2010 totaled $52.6 billion, an increase of 35.5 percent (±2.3%) from the third quarter of 2010.

"This is quite encouraging for online e-tailers. The trend continues to increase as more purchases are being made online.