BEIJING, Nov.29 --  One out of six US Internet users have sold something over the Internet, most of them through an Internet classified ad or auction sites, according to a new survey.

    The Pew Internet & American Life Project's phone survey found that 17 percent of Internet-using adults have sold goods or services online, with about 2 percent selling something on any given day.

    Sales are done through such online classified ads sites as Craigslist or through an auction like eBay.

    EBay and Craigslist are examples of the two most popular online methods Americans use to turn stuff into cash, said said Amanda Lenhart, the senior research specialist at Pew Internet who co-authored the survey.

    EBay's success has been well documented. The company took in $1.1 billion in the third quarter of this year, the vast majority from fees associated with the 459 million listings that members posted on its site during the three-month period. Nearly $11 billion worth of goods traded hands through eBay in the third quarter.

    Craigslist was the most popular classified ads site, with 8.7 million visitors in September.

    Approximately 32 million adult Americans have used online classified ads for selling items, showing an 80% growth from last year's September.

    Online selling is also higher among men, the more affliuent and the better educated.

    The study is based on a random, telepone-based survey of 1,5777 adult Internet users.

    (Agencies)