Business Environment Profiles - United States
E-commerce sales
Published: 15 May 2026
Key Metrics
E-commerce sales
Total (2026)
1001 $ billion
Annualized Growth 2021-26
2.9 %
Definition of E-commerce sales
E-commerce sales represent all purchases of goods and services completed over digital platforms by US consumers and businesses, measured in millions of chained (2017) US dollars. This indicator captures the rapid expansion and integration of online transactions into the national retail and B2B landscape, tracking disruptive innovation and shifting consumption patterns. Data is sourced from the Census Bureau.
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Recent Trends – E-commerce sales
E-commerce sales rose to $1.001 trillion in 2026, representing a 3.7% 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 2010 and 2026, e-commerce sales continued to surge, albeit at a slower pace than the initial 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 2.8% in 2025. Cumulatively, e-commerce sales grew at an annualized rate of 2.9% from 2021 to 2026.
While the post-pandemic period did not match the blistering pace of 2020, momentum was sustained by shifting demographics and rising use of mobile and omnichannel platforms. Key sectors, such asapparel, electronics, groceries and direct-to-consumer brands, contributed strongly to total sales, while new integration of online and offline services improved consumer engagement. Investment in warehousing, fulfillment, and payment systems supported continued growth, even as inflation and supply chain pressures presented headwinds in select product categories. E-commerce overall consistently outperformed traditional retail, capturing a larger share of total national sales across the period.
5-Year Outlook – E-commerce sales
E-commerce sales are forecast to experience strong growth through 2031. Sales are projected to gr...
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