Interesting look at online retail sales reports from Rimm-Kaufman Group, which manages about $100 million in pay per click volume every year.  Their clients have seen a 20% decline in sales volume from about six months ago, and the volume is not yet ramping up for the holidays as it normally would.  However, the absolute number of orders due to PPC is NOT declining.  Therefore, as you would expect, the decline is due to smaller average size of order. There’s still people online; they are still buying.  Just not as much. Good news for sellers of smaller priced items.

So far the hoped-for boost from holiday sales has not yet materialized.  Bargains are in the air – stay tuned!