The performance of the computer maker’s consumer division has hindered a broader turnaround. Steve Felice, who in February took control of the consumer division in addition to his role as the head of Dell’s small- and medium-sized businesses unit, said the company had emphasized new products and greater retail presence as a way to extend its reach beyond its bread-and-butter corporate clients.

Dell famously sold its products direct, especially on its Web site, for years. More recently it has put a greater emphasis on retail and started to sell computers at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) and other retailers in the U.S. and other places, including Japan and China. Dell’s sales from retail have grown to about $6 billion in the fiscal year ended Jan. 29, from almost nothing in 2007.

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The 40 largest online-retail Web sites achieved their highest level of customer satisfaction during the 2009 holiday season, according to a survey by ForeSee Results, an e-commerce consulting firm. These companies averaged a satisfaction score of 79 on ForeSee’s index compared with a score of 74 in both 2008 and 2007.

But a similar survey of the 110 online retailers that ForeSee works with–which range from large to small–found that overall satisfaction dropped to a 73, compared with a 75 in 2008 and a 77 in 2007. The smallest companies took the biggest hits.

“The strong are getting stronger and the rest of the pack is getting weaker,” says Larry Freed, ForeSee’s chief executive.

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Target announced today it would construct its own order-fulfillment services for its online sales, which totaled $1.8 billion last year, according to Khan’s estimate, signalling the end of its use of Amazon’s back-office fulfillment services, for which Amazon receives a fee.

“To deliver a customized multi-channel experience for Target’s guests, we believe it is in Target’s best interest going forward to assume full control over the design and management of Target’s e-commerce technology platform, fulfillment and guest services operations,” said Target president Steve Eastman in a prepared statement.

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Seems the econalypse and the absence of a “must-have product” really played havoc with spending during our annual consumer binge. Said Baker, “Not only was there not a really hot product, not only did the economy tell people that they shouldn’t buy stuff, but the stuff I have [is] more than good enough in most cases.”

ComScore compared results from its research to data from MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse, which is often used as an indicator of national retail sales. ComScore found that in categories such as apparel and consumer electronics, online sales fared better than offline. Online sales of apparel and related accessories grew four percent for the first 24 days of December versus the corresponding shopping days last year, for instance.

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Now comes word from privately backed Mercent of Seattle, Wash., that online sales surged 80 percent on the 22nd and 23rd versus 2007, and then fell sharply after Christmas.

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Yup, more of the same: Holiday sales from Nov. 1 through Dec. 19 are down one percent compared to the same period in 2007. Which is right in line with comScore’s (SCOR) prediction of flat online sales for the holiday.

If you’d like a rosier glow to these numbers, comScore tries to oblige, by noting that average online spending between Thanksgiving and Dec. 19 is actually up five percent per day. But since there are fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year compared to previous years, that won’t help retailers’ top or bottom lines.

What are people buying on Amazon (AMZN) and other electronic storefronts? Fewer flat screen TVs, ComScore says, either because promotional discounts have tapered off or because those who need a 42-inch LCD on their walls have already got one.

Meanwhile, I’m not sure what constitutes an online “Sports and Fitness” purchase, but ComScore says people have been making many more of them this year, because the category is up 31 percent. Music, movies and videos are much more familiar, and much less popular. Sales are down 24 percent, which mirrors what Best Buy (BBY) said about its brick and mortar sales for the same goods earlier this month.

By $1 billion.

Earlier this year, Amazon (AMZN) projected $7.2 billion revenue for its fourth quarter, which includes the all important holiday shopping season. Today, it said it expects revenue for that quarter to fall somewhere between $6 billion and $7 billion.

Uh-oh.

“The holidays are not going to be pretty,” said Soleil Securities analyst Scott Tilghman. “Amazon.com isn’t immune to the economic downturn.”

By $1 billion.

Earlier this year, Amazon (AMZN) projected $7.2 billion revenue for its fourth quarter, which includes the all important holiday shopping season. Today, it said it expects revenue for that quarter to fall somewhere between $6 billion and $7 billion.

Uh-oh.

“The holidays are not going to be pretty,” said Soleil Securities analyst Scott Tilghman. “Amazon.com isn’t immune to the economic downturn.”