A recent report from Nielsen Online finds that a growing number of Americans are using the internet to help find and research their next car purchase.

The study found that even while the car industry struggled in recent months, more people in the car market have been increasing their use of sites like Edmunds.com and the Kelley Blue Book site, kbb.com.

From December to January, Nielsen Online says five of the top automotive websites saw their traffic increase, which the company says is typically a leading indicator of short-term vehicle demand.

Because the traffic for sites like kbb.com have been an indicator of future car sales, Nielsen Online says that if traffic continues to increase, it could mark an increase in the car market in the coming months.

The internet is having an increased effect on car buyers as more Americans turn to their computers to get information on cars before they step foot in a showroom or auto auction. Earlier this year CarFax reported that 75 percent of used car shoppers had been influenced by its report.

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