Despite an economic recession that took quite a toll on tech stocks, especially those Internet related, the United States Department of Commerce reports that 54% of the country's population was online in September of 2001, an increase of 26 million over the thirteen months prior.

In addition, the digital divide, the disparity between access to digital information and technology along economic and racial boundaries, appears to be shrinking with Internet use growing more among lower income Americans (25% annually in households earning less than $15,000 per year) verse the highest income U.S. households (which showed 11% growth per year).

However, there are still 140 million people who still are not connected to the Internet. Nevertheless, the report found that 9 out of 10 school-age children now have access to computers either at home or at school.

Other statistics detailed in the report include:

54% of Americans used the Internet in September 2001, or 143 million people. That was up from 33% three years earlier and up 26 million over the 13 months prior.
45% of the population now uses e-mail. This is up from 35% in 2000.
36% use the Internet to search for product and service information, up from 26%.
39% of Internet users are making online purchases and 3% of individuals are searching for health information.
9 out of 10 school-age children now have access to computers either at home or at school.

143 Million Americans Online