The two pie charts present a comparison of the percentage of online sales for four key retail sectors in Canada in 2005 and 2010.
Overall, the distribution of internet sales shifted considerably over the five-year period. Food and beverages, along with video games, experienced an upward trend, while the shares for electronics and appliances and home furnishings declined.
In 2005, food and beverages made up 22% of total online sales, which increased to 32% in 2010 — the largest growth of all sectors. Similarly, video games saw a rise from 18% to 23% during the same period.
On the other hand, electronics and appliances saw their share of online sales fall from 35% in 2005 to 30% in 2010. The most significant drop was observed in the home furnishings sector, which accounted for 25% of sales in 2005 but only 15% by 2010. These changes highlight a growing consumer interest in purchasing consumable goods and entertainment products online.