Highlights. American consumers spent nearly $1.337 trillion* online in 2024, up 9.24% year-over-year (YoY).

  • In the first four (4) months of 2025, online consumers spent a monthly average of $108.7 billion or 18.4% of all retail spending nationwide.
  • eCommerce spending in the U.S. increased 34.2% in 2020.
  • The monthly record for online purchases as a percentage of total retail sales dollars was 21.2% in December 2024.

*Financial values have not been seasonally adjusted; this report does not use seasonally adjusted values unless noted otherwise.

Line Graph: Total Annual eCommerce Revenue in billions from 2014 ($370) to 2024 ($1,337) according to the U.S. Census Bureau

2025 Online Sales Growth

U.S. e-commerce sales are projected to total $1.429 trillion in 2025.

  • eCommerce sales in 2025 account for an estimated 3.09% higher share of total retail sales than in 2024
  • In the first fiscal quarter (Q1) of 2025, U.S. e-commerce sales totaled $275.8 billion, up 5.61% YoY from 2024 Q1.
  • eCommerce accounted for 15.9% of retail sales in 2025 Q1, up 2.32% YoY.
  • Global e-commerce sales will total an estimated $6.42 trillion in 2025.

Line Graph: eCommerce as a % of Total Retail Sales from 2014 (8.12%) to 2024 (18.4%) according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Online Sales Growth in the 2020s

eCommerce revenue not only increased overall in the first 5 years and 4 months of the 2020s, but the growth rate is also far above the currency inflation rate during the same period.

  • From January 2020 to April 2025, month-to-month e-commerce revenue growth averaged 1.25%.
  • During the same period, the month-to-month value of the U.S. dollar averaged a 0.33% rate of increase.
  • In the first 5 years and 4 months of the 2020s, month-to-month e-commerce revenue growth outpaced currency inflation by 279%.
  • When expressed as a percentage of nationwide retail sales revenue (i.e. market share), month-to-month e-commerce sales growth averaged a 0.53% rate of increase.  
  • In the fourth quarter of 2024, the traditional winter holiday shopping season, e-commerce sales increased 21.4% from 2024 Q3.
  • By April 2025, the e-commerce share of monthly retail sales dollars declined 14.1% from its peak in December 2024.
  • In 2024, total seasonally-adjusted e-commerce sales dollars increased 8.64%.
U.S. 24-Month Online Spending & Growth
Month Total E-commerce Sales (billions) YoY Growth
Apr 2025 $113.5 7.32%
Mar 2025 $111.8 7.80%
Feb 2025 $101.5 5.52%
Jan 2025 $107.8 6.71%
Dec 2024 $146.6 13.5%
Nov 2024 $127.8 6.19%
Oct 2024 $116.7 11.1%
Sep 2024 $104.9 9.50%
Aug 2024 $107.6 5.43%
Jul 2024 $112.1 11.2%
Jun 2024 $104.5 7.12%
May 2024 $110.4 7.46%
Apr 2024 $105.8 12.0%
Mar 2024 $103.7 6.56%
Feb 2024 $96.2 11.5%
Jan 2024 $101.0 9.08%
Dec 2023 $129.1 12.2%
Nov 2023 $120.4 13.4%
Oct 2023 $105.1 14.8%
Sep 2023 $95.8 9.55%
Aug 2023 $102.1 10.8%
Jul 2023 $100.8 13.5%
Jun 2023 $97.5 11.5%
May 2023 $102.7 12.6%

Online Sales Growth in the 21st Century

Most of the largest gains in e-commerce revenue and market share happened in the 21st century.

  • From 2000 to 2020, e-commerce spending increased at an average annual rate of 33.7%.
  • In 2000, U.S. consumers spent $112.5 billion on e-commerce.
  • From 2000 to 2010, annual e-commerce spending increased 131% to $260.1 billion.
  • Also in 2000, e-commerce sales dollars accounted for 3.86% of nationwide retail sales revenue.
  • Between 2000 and 2010, the e-commerce market share increased 80.1%.
  • From 2010 to 2020, annual e-commerce spending increased 235% to $871.3 billion.
  • Between 2010 and 2020, the e-commerce market share increased 129%.
U.S. Total Annual Online Spending
Year E-commerce Sales
(billions)
Growth YoY
2024 $1,337 9.24%
2023 $1,224 11.2%
2022 $1,101 9.55%
2021 $1,005 15.3%
2020 $871 34.2%
2019 $649 12.9%
2018 $575 11.6%
2017 $516 12.3%
2016 $459 11.6%
2015 $411 11.2%
2014 $370 8.86%
2013 $340 5.27%
2012 $323 11.4%
2011 $290 11.5%
2010 $260 11.9%
2009 $232 2.80%
2008 $226 2.49%
2007 $221 10.6%
2006 $200 15.1%
2005 $173 14.1%
2004 $152 14.7%
2003 $132 9.74%
2002 $121 6.54%
2001 $113 0.74%
2000 $112 20.8%

Projected Online Sales Growth

eCommerce sales are expected to continue rising as a share of U.S. retail sales through 2030. 

  • If current trends continue, U.S. e-commerce revenue will total $2.55 trillion in 2030.
  • Likewise, current trends indicate the e-commerce market share will run as high as 30% in 2030.
  • Online sales are expected to increase by 73.4% from 2025 to 2030, or at an average annual rate of 11.3%. 
  • Other projections indicate total online sales revenue will increase 9.29% per year between 2025 and 2029. 
  • Projections indicate that mobile online purchases as a percentage of e-commerce sales will increase 10.9% or an average annual rate of 3.51% from 2024 to 2027.

Line Graph: Total Annual eCommerce Revenue in billions from 1994 ($46) to 2004 ($152) according to the U.S. Census Bureau

Historical Online Sales Growth

While multiple media outlets consider 1994 the birth year of e-commerce, the U.S. Census Bureau did not begin tracking online sales until 2000, when it combined e-commerce with mail-order sales.

  • 1997 U.S. e-commerce sales totaled an estimated $20.8 billion.
  • From 1995 to 1997, estimated U.S. annual e-commerce sales revenue combined with mail-order revenue totaled $80 billion.
  • Between the 1995-1997 period and 2000, combined total e-commerce sales and mail-order revenue increased at an average annual rate of 8.11%.
  • Between 1999 and 2000, the combined e-commerce and mail order revenue increased 20.8%.
Global Online Spending & Growth
Year Total Sales Revenue
(billions)
YoY Change
2024 $6.007 7.65%
2023 $5.580 9.63%
2022 $5.090 2.23%
2021 $4.979 17.2%
2020 $4.248 26.8%
2019 $3.351 12.4%
2018 $2.982 25.2%
2017 $2.382 29.1%
2016 $1.845 19.2%
2015 $1.548 15.9%

Global Online Sales Growth

In the early years of e-commerce, U.S. sales accounted for an estimated 80% of global e-commerce revenue.  

  • In 2024, global online retail sales totaled $6.01 trillion. 
  • 2024 global online retail sales dollars increased 7.65% YoY.
  • 1997 worldwide e-commerce sales totaled an estimated $26 billion.
  • Between 1997 and 2014, global e-commerce increased 5,039% to $1.34 trillion.
  • Projections indicate that global online retail sales will total $8.91 trillion by 2030.
  • If projections are correct, e-commerce sales revenue will increase at an annual average rate of 8.07%.

Line Graph: Global Annual eCommerce Revenue in trillions from 2015 ($1.55) to 2024 ($6.01) according to eMarketer

Sources

  1. United States Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Reports
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation Calculator
  3. Money, 8 Amazing Things People Said When Online Shopping Was Born 20 Years Ago
  4. Mississippi Department of Archives & History
  5. eMarketer, Insights
  6. Statista, E-commerce