Google’s Morbid Search-Market Obesity, Redux

Despite their best efforts, Microsoft, Yahoo and Ask.com just can’t seem to narrow, even slightly, Google’s massive lead in online search.

Google’s (GOOG) share of the U.S. search market increased to 68.29% in May from 67.9% in April and 65.13% a year ago, according to market research firm Hitwise. Meawhile, Yahoo’s (YHOO) share fell to 19.95% from 20.28% a month ago and 20.89% a year ago. Microsoft (MSFT) didn’t fare much better. Market share for its search service fell to 5.89%, from 6.26% in April and 7.61% a year ago.

Clearly, the search wars are over–at least for the time being. If search is a natural monopoly business, then Google would appear to be its presiding monopolist.