U.S. online shopping statistics for 2026.
Current retail e-commerce figures for writers, shoppers, and anyone tracking how Americans buy online.
Last updated September 8, 2026. Figures use the U.S. Census Bureau's latest quarterly retail e-commerce report.
The latest online retail numbers.
Online shopping remains a meaningful part of everyday retail spending. The figures below use the Census Bureau's seasonally adjusted second-quarter 2026 estimates, making it easier to compare the scale and growth of e-commerce with the broader retail market.
$340.2B
U.S. retail e-commerce sales in the second quarter of 2026
This seasonally adjusted estimate measures online retail sales before adjusting for price changes.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 2026$1,986.5B
Total U.S. retail sales in the second quarter of 2026
The Census Bureau estimated total retail sales at $1,986.5 billion for the quarter.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 2026+3.8%
Quarter-over-quarter growth in online retail sales
Seasonally adjusted e-commerce sales rose from the first quarter of 2026 to the second quarter.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 2026+12.2%
Year-over-year growth in online retail sales
Second-quarter 2026 e-commerce sales increased compared with the second quarter of 2025.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 2026+6.7%
Year-over-year growth in total retail sales
Over the same period, total U.S. retail sales increased 6.7%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, August 2026Online shopping is growing faster than retail overall.
In the second quarter of 2026, e-commerce increased 12.2% from the same quarter a year earlier. Total retail sales grew 6.7% over that period. The difference shows why a well-considered online shopping experience matters, whether someone is looking for a wardrobe staple, a practical home find, or a complete room refresh.
These figures are national estimates, not a forecast or a measure of any individual retailer's sales. They are most useful as a current snapshot of the U.S. retail market.
How to use these statistics.
Every figure on this page comes from the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales Report for the second quarter of 2026, released in August 2026. Dollar amounts and percentage changes are seasonally adjusted and are not adjusted for price changes.
This page is reviewed regularly when the Census Bureau releases a newer quarterly report. Use the permanent links on each statistic when citing a specific figure.
Cite this page
Essentialsbytyco. “U.S. Online Shopping Statistics: 2026 Retail E-Commerce Data.” Updated September 8, 2026. https://essentialsbytyco.com/online-shopping-statistics.