Dive Summary:

• Details published by Internet Retailer on a U.S. Commerce Department report claim online retail sales increased 18.4% in the second quarter.
• The figures show that the increase in online retail sales is the largest increase since 2007, indicating that e-commerce sales have returned to pre-recession growth rates.
• Internet Retailer calculates that e-commerce accounted for nearly 8% of total retail sales, compared to 7.2% during the same period in 2012.

From the article:

... By including purchases consumers make on tablets and smartphones this year comScore is providing a more accurate picture of total online sales than it had when it only tracked purchases made on computers. Given that comScore says the $4.7 billion in mobile purchases in the second quarter of this year represents a 24% increase from the same period last year that suggests mobile sales in Q2 2012 were about $3.8 billion. ...