E-commerce sales in the US - Data and Analysis (2000-2032)

E-commerce sales rose to $1.036 trillion in 2026, representing a 7.2% increase from 2025. This growth has been driven by growing online sales in apparel, consumer electronics, home goods and groceries. More consumers are using online marketplaces for purchases, especially as mobile apps continue to develop quick and easy checkout experiences. Between 2021 and 2026, e-commerce sales surged, albeit at a slower pace in the latter half of the period than with the initial post-pandemic spike. Expansion accelerated in 2021, with sales climbing 15.0% to $870.0 million as consumer behavior adapted to the convenience and safety of online shopping for essentials, electronics, and home improvement goods. Growth slowed thereafter: e-commerce sales actually dropped by 0.5% in 2022 as brick-and-mortar stores reopened and traditional retail regained some market share. The steady upward trend resumed in 2023 with a 3.3% increase, followed by 5.0% in 2024 and 2.9% in 2025. Cumulatively, e-commerce sales grew at an annualized rate of 3.5% from 2021 to 2026. While the post-pandemic period did not match the blistering pace of 2021, momentum was sustained by shifting demographics and rising use of mobile and omnichannel platforms. Key sectors, such as apparel, electronics and direct-to-consumer brands, contributed strongly to total sales, while new integration of online and offline services improved consumer engagement. Online grocery sales have proved to be a particularly strong growth magnate, with mass merchants and retailers offering same-day delivery in a bid to obtain new customers. The use of AI chat services has also helped account for more online traffic for retailers, especially in the latter half of the current period. . Since 2023, e-commerce overall consistently outperformed traditional retail, capturing a larger share of total national sales across the period.