Online retail sales in the U.S. may have reached the bottom for 2009, but a return to double-digit growth of previous years is unlikely with the current economy, according to comScore.

In a Webinar about the online economy in the first quarter of this year, comScore compared zero growth with a 3 percent drop in the holiday fourth quarter.

“Although online retail spending growth was flat in the first quarter, this does represent a slight improvement over the disappointing fourth quarter,” said comScore chairman Gian Fulgoni.

“These results would appear to indicate that the economy is finally exhibiting some signs of stability, and with consumer confidence beginning to improve, I’m optimistic that the online channel is poised for a return to positive growth in the second half of 2009.”

Concerns over unemployment, consumers continuing to save and slightly higher gas prices are still slowing online retail sales, which continue to do better than traditional retail stores.

Understandably, job security was the main economic concern named by respondents from all income levels, with mid-to low-income earners equally worried about prices.

Still, flat online retail sales performed better than an 8 percent decrease in first quarter retail sales.

“Clearly, ecommerce is picking up market share,” Fulgoni said. “If (retailers) can focus on ecommerce, that’s where the dollars seem to be shifting in retail.”