E-commerce retail sales up 2.6% in Q4

The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2019, adjusted for seasonal variation, but not for price changes, was $158.0 billion, an increase of 2.6 percent(±0.7%) from the third quarter of 2019. Total retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2019 were estimated at $1,386.2 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent (±0.2%) from the third quarter of 2019. The fourth quarter 2019 e-commerce estimate increased 16.7 percent (±1.1%) from the fourth quarter of 2018 while total retail sales increased 3.8 percent (±0.4%) in the same period. E-commerce sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 accounted for 11.4 percent of total sales.  

On a not adjusted basis, the estimate of U.S. retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2019 totaled $187.3 billion, an increase of 28.4 percent (±0.7%) from the third quarter of 2019. The fourth quarter 2019 e-commerce estimate increased 16.4 percent (±1.1%) from the fourth quarter of 2018 while total retail sales increased 4.0 percent (±0.4%) in the same period. E-commerce sales in the fourth quarter of 2019 accounted for 12.8 percent of total sales. 

Total e-commerce sales for 2019 were estimated at $601.7 billion, an increase of 14.9 percent (±1.1%) from 2018. Total retail sales in 2019 increased 3.4 percent (±0.4%) from 2018. E-commerce sales in 2019 accounted for 11.0 percent of total sales. E-commerce sales in 2018 accounted for 9.9 percent of total sales