US retail e-commerce sales for 3Q08, adjusted for seasonal variation but not price changes, totaled about $34.4 billion, an increase of 0.3% from Q 2, the Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced (via Retailer Daily).

Total retail sales for the third quarter were estimated at $1,018.8 billion, a decrease of 1.4% from the second quarter of 2008.

The 3 Q 0 8 e-commerce estimate increased 5.7% from the third quarter of 2007, whereas total retail sales increased just 0.3% in the same period.

E-commerce sales in the third quarter of 2008 accounted for 3.4% of total retail sales.