The role e-commerce plays in the U.S. retail market continues to grow. In 2012, the nation's online retailers recorded $186.2 billion in sales - 15 percent more than in 2011 - according to comScore Inc., a Reston, Va.-based firm that analyzes Web, mobile, and TV consumer behavior. Fourth-quarter online sales in 2012 reached approximately $56.8 billion, compared with $49.7 billion in 2011, $43.4 billion in 2010, and $39 billion in 2009. Mounting sales translate into greater demand for logistics facilities tailored to the needs of e-commerce. Many online merchants rely on third-party fulfillment services to house their merchandise and ship it to customers. A brick-and-mortar merchant that also sells on the Web might handle traditional distribution to stores and direct-to-customer fulfillment from different portions of the same facility.
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