Amazon.com 1Q sales up 18%

SEATTLE Amazon.com reported that first quarter net sales increased 18% to $4.89 billion in the first quarter, compared with $4.13 billion in first quarter 2008.

Net income increased 24% to $177 million in the first quarter, or 41 cents per diluted share, compared with net income of $143 million, or 34 cents per diluted share, in first quarter 2008.

Net sales for the second quarter are expected to be between $4.30 billion and $4.75 billion, or to grow between 6% and 17% compared with second quarter 2008.