Consumers’ love of online research and purchasing convenience is fueling online retail sales growth, according to a report released Wednesday by Forrester Research Inc.

The Cambridge, Mass.-based market research company is predicting that North American online consumer sales, including auctions and travel, will hit US$329 billion in 2010 -- a cumulative average growth rate over the next five years of 14 percent. The latest sales forecast is $13 billion higher than Forrester predicted in September 2004.

Online sales this year should total $172 billion, with holiday sales shaping up well, according to another research firm, comScore Networks Inc. in Reston, Va. It said that online sales, excluding travel, were up 23 percent to $12.75 billion over the prior year for the 39-day period ended Dec. 9.

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