Highlights. Global brick-and-mortar retail sales will total $21.8 trillion in 2024; projections indicate brick-and-mortar sales will reach $25.1 trillion in 2028.

  • U.S. brick-and-mortar retail sales totaled $7.05 billion in 2023; projections indicate sales will hit $8.05 trillion in 2028.
  • Brick-and-mortar sales growth lagged behind e-commerce sales growth by 81%
  • 72% of consumers shop in stores on a weekly basis.
  • The U.S. economy supports 1.082 million stores nationwide.
  • A net 1,820 new brick-and-mortar locations opened in 2023, down 70.6% from 2022 net openings.

Bar Graph: U.S. Brick-and-Mortar Retail Revenue in trillions from 2015 ($5.21) to 2023 ($7.05) according to the U.S. Census Bureau with projections to 2028 ($8.05)

2024 Brick-and-Mortar Sales Statistics

Brick-and-mortar sales continue to grow but at a slower rate than e-commerce sales.

  • Global in-store retail sales are expected to total $21.8 trillion in 2024, up 4.81%.
  • American brick-and-mortar stores’ average daily revenue totaled $19.4 billion in the first eight (8) months of 2024.
  • In the first half of 2024, in-store retail sales totaled $3.02 trillion.
  • Compared to the first half of 2023, revenue among American brick-and-mortar stores was up 1.38%
  • In-store sales represented 84.6% of total U.S. retail sales in the first half of 2024; this is down 0.87% compared to the same period in 2023. (85.3%).
  • In the second quarter of 2024 (Q2), brick-and-mortar retail sales in the U.S. totaled $1.57 trillion, up 1.04% from 2023 Q2.
  • In Q1 2024, brick-and-mortar retail sales totaled $1.45 trillion, up 1.74% from Q1 2023.
In-Store Revenue & Growth
Year Annual Sales
(in trillions)
Annual Growth
2023 $7.051 2.13%
2022 $6.904 8.82%
2021 $6.345 18.9%
2020 $5.335 -3.25%
2019 $5.515 2.13%
2018 $5.400 3.68%
2017 $5.208 3.39%
2016 $5.037 2.15%
2015 $4.931 1.88%
2014 $4.840 3.95%
2013 $4.656 3.53%
2012 $4.498 4.51%

Brick-and-Mortar Retail Sales Statistics

Most retailers make the majority of their sales in stores as opposed to online.

  • U.S. brick-and-mortar retail sales in 2023 totaled $7.051 trillion, up 2.13% year-over-year (YoY).
  • 85.0% of all U.S. retail sales dollars came from brick-and-mortar stores.
  • In-store U.S. sales revenue increased 18.9% in 2021, a 21st-century record.
  • From 2015 to 2020, brick-and-mortar sales revenue increased 8.20%.
  • Globally, brick-and-mortar sales totaled $20.8 trillion in 2023 up 4.00% YoY. 
  • Among U.S. multichannel retailers with brick-and-mortar locations, 45.5% make more than half of their revenue from in-store sales.
  • Discount department stores make 96% of their sales at brick-and-mortar locations.

Grouped Bar Graph: Global Brick-and-Mortar Retail Revenue from 2022 ($20.0 trillion) to 2023 ($20.8 trillion) with projections up to 2028 ($25.1 trillion) according to Statista

Brick-and-Mortar Retail Business Statistics

A record number of brick-and-mortar stores operate in the United States, with a net estimated 20,650 new stores opening since 2020.

  • 83.7% of retailers have at least one brick-and-mortar location.
  • 71.4% of retailers hire more in-store workers over the holiday season.
  • 14.5% of merchandise sold by brick-and-mortar retailers is returned to the store.
  • 71% of brick-and-mortar retailers require receipts for in-store returns.
  • Retailers are 16.5% less likely to require receipts for returns to brick-and-mortar locations (as opposed to mail-in returns).

Grouped Bar Graph: Brick-and-Mortar Share of U.S. Retail Revenue from 2013 (93.1%) to 2023 (85.0) according to U.S. Census Bureau

Brick-and-Mortar Consumer Statistics

Most consumers shop at brick-and-mortar locations at least once per week.

  • 45% of consumers primarily shop in brick-and-mortar stores (as opposed to online).
  • 62% of consumers mainly buy their groceries in-store.
  • 50% of consumers primarily buy personal care and beauty products in-store.
  • 40% of consumers buy most of their apparel and footwear in-store.
  • 28% of consumers primarily buy home goods in-store.

Grouped Bar Graph: Brick-and-Mortar Share of Global Retail Revenue from 2020 (82.1%) to 2023 (71.0%) with projections to 2026 (72.0%) according to Statista

Brick-and-Mortar Retail Crime Statistics

A majority of retailers experienced increased incidents of various retail crimes in 2023.

  • Among merchandise returned to brick-and-mortar locations, 13.7% are fraudulent returns.
  • In 2023, 65.2% of brick-and-mortar stores saw increased incidents of guest-on-associate violence.
  • 68.8% of brick-and-mortar retailers experienced an increase in shoplifting.
  • 36% of inventory loss among brick-and-mortar stores is due to shoplifting.
  • 78.1% of stores saw an increase in organized retail crime in 2023.

Grouped Bar Graph: Quarterly U.S. Brick-and-Mortar Revenue in trillion USD from 2021-2024, fiscal quarters 1-4 according to the Census

These data and insights were compiled by the Capital One Shopping team based on publicly available data.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau, Retail Monthly Trade
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Industry at a Glance: Retail Trade
  3. International Council of Shopping Centers
  4. National Retail Federation
  5. Statista, Industry Overview