U.S. retail e-commerce sales were $1.23 trillion in 2025, 16.4% of total retail sales (Census)
Verified Confidence: high
Primary source found; it says the same thing, the scope matches, and it is reasonably current.
- Commonly cited as
- "How big is US e-commerce?" / "What share of retail is online?"
- True origin
- U.S. Census Bureau — Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, 4th Quarter 2025 (CB26-42)
- Type
- Reference fact: A frequently needed number or rule taken directly from a primary source (e.g. Pew, Census, IAB/PwC, FTC), with its as-of date.
- Year
- 2026
- Data as of
- Full year 2025; released March 10, 2026 (delayed by the federal funding lapse)
- Last checked
- What the source says
Total e-commerce sales for 2025 were estimated at 1,233.7 billion, an increase of 5.4 percent (±1.2%) from 2024. Total retail sales in 2025 increased 3.5 percent (±0.4%) from 2024. E-commerce sales in 2025 accounted for 16.4 percent of total sales.
- Method & sample
- Census Monthly Retail Trade Survey; nonemployers are excluded since the April 2025 revision, and ticket sales agencies and other non-retail services are not counted.
- Drift between quote and source
- Scope: retail goods only; excludes travel and services bought online
- Note: the quarterly seasonally adjusted share is different (17.1% in Q2 2026)
- Interest
- n/a (federal statistical agency).
Safe rephrasing
The Census Bureau estimated U.S. retail e-commerce sales at $1,233.7 billion in 2025, up 5.4% from 2024 and 16.4% of total retail sales.
Sources we opened
Machine-readable: /api/claims/census-ecommerce-2025-1-23-trillion-16-4-percent.json · Last checked 2026-10-16