Online shopping continues to take a meaningful share of US retail spending, while fit, delivery, and returns remain central to how people choose where to buy. This page brings together current figures from public agencies and established retail research, with the date and source attached to every statistic.
US Ecommerce
Online retail keeps growing
Recent Census figures show both the scale of online retail and its continued growth.$1.234T
US retail ecommerce sales in 2025
The Census Bureau estimates that online retail sales rose 5.4% from 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, March 10, 202616.4%
Share of US retail sales made online in 2025
Ecommerce accounted for roughly one out of every six retail dollars that year.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, March 10, 2026$329.5B
US retail ecommerce sales in Q2 2026
The not-adjusted quarterly total was 9.4% higher than the first quarter of 2026.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 18, 202612.4%
Year-over-year ecommerce growth in Q2 2026
Online sales grew faster than total retail sales, which rose 6.6% over the same period.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 18, 202616.4%
Share of retail sales made online in Q2 2026
This figure uses the Census Bureau’s not-adjusted quarterly estimate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 18, 2026Apparel Spending
Clothing remains a considered purchase
Household data puts apparel spending in context alongside the practical decisions that shape an online order.2.5%
Share of household spending on apparel and services in 2024
This category includes clothing, footwear, and dry cleaning in the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer-spending data.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, February 12, 2026Retail Returns
Confidence after checkout matters
Returns research highlights why fit details and clear policies remain part of the buying decision.19.3%
Estimated share of online sales returned in 2025
The retail returns study reports a higher return rate for online purchases than for retail overall.
Source: National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, October 15, 202582%
Online shoppers who say free returns matter
The finding shows why shoppers often look for return-policy clarity before completing an order.
Source: National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, October 15, 20259%
Share of returns estimated to be fraudulent in 2025
The retail report identifies return fraud as an ongoing concern for merchants.
Source: National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, October 15, 2025Methodology & sources
How to use this page
Each figure is taken directly from the named source and reflects the source’s reporting period, not a KawZulu estimate. Figures will be checked monthly, and this page will keep its anchors stable when the underlying data is refreshed.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, second quarter 2026August 18, 2026
- U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, fourth quarter 2025March 10, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Housing and transportation accounted for 50 percent of household spending in 2024February 12, 2026
- National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, 2025 Retail Returns LandscapeOctober 15, 2025
KawZulu Online, “US Online Shopping Statistics: 2026,” updated August 31, 2026.
https://kawzuluonline.com/online-shopping-statisticsKawZulu Online