$340.2B
U.S. retail e-commerce sales in Q2 2026
The seasonally adjusted estimate was up 3.8% from the prior quarter.
U.S. Census Bureau, August 2026Research library
U.S. apparel shopping statistics
Current, citable figures on online retail, household apparel spending, and returns. This page is updated as its primary sources release new data.
Last updated October 30, 2026
9 facts about how Americans shop for apparel
These figures describe the broader U.S. retail environment around apparel, rather than the customers of any one brand. Each statistic links to its original publisher and release date so writers, retailers, and researchers can check the context before quoting it.
17.1%
of U.S. retail sales came from e-commerce
That was the seasonally adjusted share in Q2 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, August 202612.2%
year-over-year e-commerce growth
U.S. e-commerce sales rose from Q2 2025 to Q2 2026, faster than total retail sales growth of 6.7%.
U.S. Census Bureau, August 2026$2,001
average annual apparel and services spending
The average U.S. consumer unit reported this level of spending in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 20252.5%
of annual household spending went to apparel and services
The category includes clothing, footwear, and dry cleaning in the 2024 consumer expenditure data.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 2025−2.0%
change in average apparel and services spending
Average annual spending in this category fell from $2,041 in 2023 to $2,001 in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 202516.9%
estimated retail return rate for 2024
Retailers estimated that this share of their annual sales would be returned.
National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, December 2024$890B
estimated value of U.S. retail returns in 2024
The estimate covers the retail industry as a whole, not apparel alone.
National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, December 2024+21%
higher online return rates than overall return rates
Retailers reported this average difference in a separate October 2024 survey.
National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, December 2024Sources and methodology
How to read these figures
This page brings together the latest available releases from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the National Retail Federation with Happy Returns. Figures are reported as each source defines them. E-commerce figures represent all U.S. retail, and return figures represent retail overall, so neither should be read as apparel-only estimates.
We will refresh this page when a source publishes a newer relevant release. Source links are included below and beside every statistic.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, Q2 2026, published August 18, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, 2024, released December 19, 2025.
- National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, 2024 Consumer Returns in the Retail Industry Report, published December 2024.
Cite this page
Bask in the Light. “U.S. Apparel Shopping Statistics.” Updated October 30, 2026. baskinthelight.com/apparel-shopping-statistics.