Clinton estimated that 4 million American families would use the Internet for the first time this year to buy holiday gifts including his own. "I intend to join them because online shopping has significant benefits, not just for consumers and large established retailers... Online commerce also opens a world of opportunity for local artisans and small entrepreneurs." The White House cited further projections that Internet shopping would total as much as $9.5 billion this holiday season and could exceed $1.4 trillion by 2003. MORE >>
Clinton Leads Online Charge for Holiday Shopping
President Clinton used his weekly radio address
itself once a high-tech innovation for FDR, and
now available online in text and RealAudio to
lead the Internet shopping charge over the
weekend. Speaking Saturday, Clinton celebrated
e-commerce, saying he would be buying online for
the holidays, while also cautioning consumers to
take "basic precautions" while using the computer
to shop.