US E-Commerce Share of Retail Sales Rises to 17.1%
E-commerce has become a central growth engine for US retail as consumers shop online more frequently and shift a larger share of spending away from physical stores. Data cited by the US Census Bureau and PYMNTS show that rising monthly digital shopping activity, together with broader mobile-commerce adoption, is reinforcing the long-term migration of retail spending to online channels.
E-commerce accounted for 17.1% of total US retail sales in the second quarter, according to the latest report, while online sales increased 3.8% from the first quarter. The figures indicate that digital commerce is not only capturing a larger portion of consumer spending but is also expanding faster as mobile shopping becomes more deeply embedded in purchasing habits.
All Coverage
1 original reportsThe Backstory
The history behind this eventU.S. E-Commerce Share of Retail Sales Rises to 16.6% in Fourth Quarter of 2025
E-commerce continues to account for a growing share of retail sales as financially strained U.S. consumers increasingly turn to online channels to compare prices, shop and make digital payments. The shift is shaping brick-and-mortar retailers’ channel strategies and influencing how resources are allocated across logistics, payment services and digital advertising.
The latest U.S. Census Bureau data showed that e-commerce sales reached $316.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025, covering October through December, and accounted for 16.6% of total U.S. retail sales. Digital channels continued to grow faster than the overall retail sector, underscoring online spending’s role as a major source of growth in the U.S. retail market.
Subscribe to Mark Radar Weekly
Every Friday, the week's strongest signals in your inbox. Unsubscribe anytime.
If you search news on Google, you can set Mark Radar as a preferred source—our coverage will show up more often in your results. Set as preferred source on Google →