RAM Research Group projects that global consumer online purchases will grow at a rate between 65% and 70%, compounded annually, over the next five years, driving online sales to more than $200 billion by the year 2003. For this year, RAM Research estimates that nearly $31.0 billion will be spent over the Internet worldwide, about 67% more than 1998's total Internet purchase volume. The research firm says Internet payment card volume, as a percentage of total sales, will drop from 90% to 82% over the next five years.

Global Consumer Online Sales Projections
                   	1998   	1999   	2000   	2001   	2002   	2003
Global Online Sales	$18.5b	$30.9b	$52.5b	$88.2b	$147.3b	$216.9b
Card Volume        	$16.7b	$21.7b	$45.2b	$74.1b	$122.3b	$177.9b
                 Source: RAM Research Group  (Frederick, Maryland)