Bouncing back smartly from the recession, online retail sales increased 11% in the fourth quarter of 2010 from the previous year, and full-year 2010 sales were up 9.8% over 2009,

Fourth quarter e-retail sales totaled a record $43.432 billion, versus $39.045 billion a year earlier. For the full year, online retailers sold $142.491 billion worth of merchandise, up from $129.797 in 2009.

“Retail e-commerce had a strong fourth quarter, growing 11% versus last year as holiday season spending was bolstered by an improving sentiment among some consumer segments and by retailers’ discounting and promotions,” says comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni. “The 2010 holiday season saw the first billion-dollar day on record and several more surpassing $900 million to help propel Q4 to record spending levels. We anticipate that the progress we’ve seen in the past year as we climbed out of the recession will continue with sustained double-digit growth rates in 2011.” E-retail sales totaled $1.028 billion on the Monday after Thanksgiving, the first day ever to exceed $1 billion, according to comScore.