$340.2B
U.S. retail e-commerce sales in Q2 2026
The seasonally adjusted estimate for the second quarter of 2026.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026Retail reference
U.S. online shopping statistics
Current retail and e-commerce figures for boutique owners, retail writers, and anyone tracking how people shop online.
The big picture
Online shopping keeps taking a larger share of retail.
Independent boutiques compete in a market where shoppers move easily between inspiration, research, and checkout. The figures below put that shift in context, from the scale of online retail to the return experience customers expect after they buy.
Each number is kept close to its original reporting language and period, so it is easy to check, quote, and cite accurately.
17.1%
Share of total retail sales completed online in Q2 2026
E-commerce accounted for more than one in six retail dollars in the seasonally adjusted estimate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026+12.2%
Year-over-year growth in e-commerce sales
Seasonally adjusted online retail sales grew from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026+3.8%
Quarter-over-quarter growth in e-commerce sales
Seasonally adjusted online retail sales grew from Q1 2026 to Q2 2026.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026$1.99T
Total U.S. retail sales in Q2 2026
The seasonally adjusted estimate was $1,986.5 billion across retail.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026$849.9B
Projected value of retail returns in 2025
The estimate covers returns across the U.S. retail industry.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2025 Retail Returns Landscape, 202519.3%
Estimated share of online sales returned in 2025
Nearly one in five online purchases was expected to come back.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2025 Retail Returns Landscape, 202582%
Consumers who say free returns matter when shopping online
Return expectations remain a major part of the online buying decision.
Source: National Retail Federation, 2025 Retail Returns Landscape, 2025What the numbers mean
Convenience is part of the product.
Online retail is no longer a side channel. Customers expect a clear path from a product they like to the details, checkout, and any support they need afterward. For boutiques, that makes strong product presentation, straightforward shopping, and a sensible return experience part of the same promise.
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Methodology and sources
How to use this page
This page summarizes published U.S. retail figures. Statistics retain the reporting period supplied by the source, and figures are updated when a newer release materially changes the picture.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, published August 18, 2026
- National Retail Federation, 2025 Retail Returns Landscape, 2025
Cite this page
Solara Secrets. “U.S. Online Shopping Statistics 2026.” Updated September 8, 2026. https://solarasecrets.com/online-shopping-statistics