• January 16, 2009

Google sites continued to lead in December with 149 million visitors, followed by Yahoo with 145.7 million visitors and Microsoft with 125.4 million visitors, according to comScore Media Metrix. Facebook and Apple both climbed two spots to No. 11 and No. 12, respectively.

Platform-A led the December Top 50 Ad Focus ranking, reaching 91% of the 190.7 million Americans online. Yahoo Network ranked No. 2, reaching 87%, while ValueClick Networks captured the No. 3 spot with an 84%. Adconion Media Group moved up three spots to No. 9, Amazon.com moved up three spots to No. 37, and ITN Digital Networks-Potential Reach move up five to take No. 40.

Online traffic rose on U.S. retail Web sites in December as consumers searched for deals online. Jewelry/luxury goods/accessories jumped 30% to 25 million visitors, ranking the top-performing category for the month. In the sports/outdoor retail category, online traffic jumped 24% to more than 38 million visitors. Music, another retail category among the top 10, rose 24% to 26 million visitors while flowers/gifts/greeting rose 17% to 45.7 million visitors, and computer software rose 14% to 30.2 million visitors.--Laurie Sullivan