Google’s (GOOG) share of the US search market rose to almost 54% in March, according to NetRatings. Its year-over-year increase in handling queries rose almost 32%. Yahoo! (YHOO), which has a market share of almost 22% grew at only 16.6% over last March.

Microsoft (MSFT) grew even slower. With a 10% share of US searches, its increase from March 2006 was only 11%.

Near the bottom of the list is IACI’s Ask.com. It has 1.8% of the search market. Its growth rate was only a little over 2%. It is not a business IAC/Interactive (IACI) should be in.

Douglas A. McIntyre