More Black Households Buying Computers

A new study disputes the notion that black households are being left behind on the information highway. Purchases of computers rose as personal income for blacks jumped 13% to $367 billion in 1996, from $324 billion a year earlier, according to Target Market News of Chicago. The Commerce Department found in its 1996 survey of annual consumer spending that blacks account for 25% of online-services spending. Whites account for most of the remainder. Some businesses are responding to blacks’ technology spending. Microsoft Corp. last year formed a venture with Black Entertainment Television to offer online content, and numerous black-owned online services are emerging.