Internet Retailers See Sales Increase

Bolstered by strong demand for cars, books and many other consumer goods, sales over the Internet boomed during the summer even as more traditional retail sales were in decline.

The Commerce Department said Monday that electronic commerce activity jumped by 15.3 percent in the July-September quarter, triple the 5.5 percent increase registered in the April-June period.

The improvement in Internet sales came despite a dip of 0.4 percent in overall retail sales after a strong 9.1 percent surge in the second quarter.

Strength in Internet activity was led by mail-order firms, which posted big gains, followed by regular retailers who have branched into Internet sales, so-called bricks-and-clicks operations.