U.S. e-commerce sales rise in Q1 2023, but penetration remains flat

It is learned that on May 18, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau released the country's e-commerce sales data for the first quarter. The data showed that U.S. e-commerce sales increased significantly, but the penetration rate only increased by 0.5% year-on-year in the first quarter.

For data adjusted for seasonal changes but not taking into account price changes, the estimated first quarter retail e-commerce sales in the United States were $272.6 billion, a month-on-month increase of 3.0% (±0.7%) and a year-on-year increase of 7.8% (±1.6%). In the first quarter of 2023, U.S. e-commerce sales accounted for 15.1% of total sales.

On an unadjusted basis, total estimated U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the first quarter of 2023 are $253.1 billion, a decrease of 16.5% (±0.7%) from the previous quarter and an increase of 8.0% (±1.6%) from the previous quarter. E-commerce sales accounted for 15.1% of total sales.

The first quarter growth could foreshadow another record year for U.S. e-commerce sales in 2023. In February, DigitalCommerce360 reported that total U.S. sales in 2022 reached $1.03 trillion, surpassing the $1 trillion mark for the first time.

DigitalCommerce360 analysis shows that US e-commerce growth is currently hovering around pre-pandemic levels

According to DigitalCommerce360 analysis of Ministry of Commerce data, e-commerce penetration stabilized at 21.7% in the first quarter of 2023, compared with 21.2% in the same period last year. The stability of e-commerce penetration suggests that even if stores reopen, digital shopping habits formed during the epidemic may become the new normal.

According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the e-commerce penetration rate in the United States is 15.1%, and the growth rate is also very small.

While the record-breaking online sales peak during the pandemic has faded, quarterly e-commerce sales are still growing, albeit at a slower pace. In 2021 and 2022, the share of U.S. e-commerce in total retail sales growth hit a record low for two consecutive years. This suggests that offline sales are catching up with e-commerce sales in the wake of the COVID lockdown.

Editor✎ Ashley/

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