Led by a surge in entertainment spending, U.S. consumers shelled out $987 million for online content during the first half of this year, marking a 16 percent increase from the first half of 2004,
according to a report issued Monday by the Online Publishers Association. Spending at entertainment and lifestyle soared by about 45 percent to $265 million in the first half of this year, from $183
million in the first six months of 2004. Almost half of the total entertainment/lifestyle spending--$115 million--was from single-purchase sales, such as digital music. -- Wendy Davis