• by August 13, 2001

The Internet ratings report for the month of July 2001 from Nielsen//NetRatings revealed that Internet growth at-home spiked 63% in the past two years. The U.S. Internet population increased 16% from July 2000 to July 2001. By comparison, the population grew 41% the previous year from 1999 to 2000.

"Despite a troubled economy and slumping PC sales, adoption of the Internet continues to grow at double-digit annual rates," said Sean Kaldor, VP of analytical services, NetRatings. "The Web long-ago captured early adopters and is now reaching the latter half of mainstream America. Going forward, Internet growth is being driven by late adopters and by more aggressive use from the enormous existing Internet population."

NetRatings says that 58% of all Americans had Internet access in their homes in July 2001, as compared to 52% last year. In July 1999 only 39% of all Americans had access to the Web.

Overall, surfers are spending more time online and logging on more frequently. Web users spent an average of 10 hours and 19 minutes online during the month of July 2001, rising 7% from nine hours and 41 minutes spent in July 2000. Surfers also accessed the Internet more often, jumping 11% in the past year.

"Compared to other communications and media technology, Internet adoption has reached nearly three out of five homes almost overnight," added Kaldor. "While PC and Internet penetration have far exceeded many other types of consumer devices, there is still ample room to grow before reaching the 98% penetration levels of telephones and TVs."