The number of online catalogs rose from 7,440 to 8,903, according to the 2006 edition of The National Directory of Catalogs released Wednesday. Online catalogs now make up 78 percent of the 11,438
catalog listings, compared to 60 percent last year, with 1,320 available only in online format--double the 772 online-only catalogs in the previous year. Of the 225 subject categories in this year's
edition of The National Directory of Catalogs, the books and book trade category has the most listings with 1008 catalogs in 2006. Other popular catalog categories in 2006 include apparel and
accessories--750, automotive--542, education--513, gardening and horticulture--434, and gifts and greeting cards--307.