The graphs represent completely different data and it is easy to misinterpret. Neither graph represents total percentage of online sales to Brick & Mortar stores accurately.
From the comments on Permuto site:
"The graph above is more descriptive of how e-commerce is replacing mail order catalogs for non-store purchases."
Source of data is probably:
Table 1022: Electronics Shopping and Mail-Order Houses–Total and E-Commerce Sales.
"Represents NAICS code 454110, which comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing all types of merchandise using non store means, such as catalogs, toll free telephone numbers, or electronic media, such as interactive television or computer. ”
On the other hand, this is such a glaring security flaw that it's hard to have much sympathy for Microsoft (or Microsoft's infamous legal department), since this could cause significant problems for a merchant. The people deserve to know the truth. ;-) Thank you for making this public.
The six cents balance marked as "available" was also from fake transactions. Those transactions cleared after 60 days. If the system was automated, those transactions should have been canceled. I don't think they will actually do any checks until I try to withdraw the money. I don't plan to try that though. I think the part about blocking another person's transactions is actually the interesting part.
http://www.permuto.com/blog/2010/02/27/what-are-people-reall...
Maybe I'm interpreting the Milo graph wrong.