E-commerce adoption has been on a consistent rise. The COVID pandemic made buying from home irresistible, and once the habit set in, it was here to stay. Annual e-commerce spending in the US alone broke $1 trillion in 2022 and looks set to keep growing[1].
We’ve collected the latest stats on online shopping, from e-commerce market share over time to major drivers of online purchases. Let’s dive right in.
Key Findings
- E-commerce retail sales in the US reached $1.03 trillion in 2022, accounting for 14.5% of all retail sales.
- More than half (57.7%) of internet users aged 16 to 64 in the US shop online each week.
- Home delivery (55%) and avoiding crowds (49%) are reported as the most common reasons Americans shop online.
E-Commerce Sales in the US
E-commerce retail sales in the US amounted to approximately $1.03 trillion in 2022, the first year when annual sales hit the $1 trillion mark. Annual e-commerce sales (in dollar value) in 2022 grew by 1.73x compared to 2019[1].
Share of E-Commerce in Retail Sales
According to estimates provided by the Census Bureau, e-commerce accounted for 14.5% of all retail sales in the US in 2022, registering a slight decrease from 14.7% (the highest reported share yet) in 2021[2].
Pre-pandemic, the share of e-commerce in overall retail sales in the US was on a consistent rise and hit 10.5% in 2019.
Note: Data adjusted for seasonal variation and converted from quarterly to annual frequency (using average as aggregation method).
How Many People Shop Online?
According to a GWI survey, 57.7% of internet users aged 16 to 64 in the US buy something online each week as of Q4 2022[3].
To put it in perspective, according to the same survey, 55.5% of global internet users shop online, with the highest e-commerce adoption rate reported in South Korea (64.7%).
Why Do People Shop Online?
According to a survey conducted among online shoppers in the US, direct home delivery (55%), avoiding crowds (49%), and convenience (48%) are cited as the most common reasons they shop online[4].
