$1.234T
U.S. retail e-commerce sales in 2025
The Census Bureau estimated total U.S. retail e-commerce sales at $1.2337 trillion for 2025, up 5.4% from 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, March 10, 2026Reference desk
U.S. clothing shopping statistics: 2026.
Current data on online retail, apparel spending, and returns, gathered in one place for writers, shoppers, and anyone tracking how Americans buy clothes.
Last updated September 30, 2026. Figures remain tied to the reporting dates named below.
At a glance
The numbers behind the next purchase.
Clothing shopping sits inside a larger shift toward online retail, while fit, delivery, and return policies still shape the choice after a shopper finds a piece they like. The data below is limited to published figures from primary government sources and a current industry survey.
16.4%
Share of U.S. retail sales made online in 2025
E-commerce accounted for 16.4% of total U.S. retail sales in 2025, compared with 16.1% in 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, March 10, 2026$320.4B
Sales at U.S. clothing and accessories stores in 2025
Census estimated 2025 sales for clothing and clothing accessories stores at $320.356 billion, a 5.5% increase from 2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, January 15, 2026$2,001
Average U.S. household spending on apparel and services in 2024
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported average annual apparel and services spending of $2,001 per consumer unit, down 2.0% from 2023.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, December 19, 202515.8%
Estimated retail return rate for 2025
Retailers estimated that 15.8% of annual sales, worth $849.9 billion, would be returned in 2025.
Source: National Retail Federation, October 15, 202519.3%
Estimated online-sales return rate for 2025
The National Retail Federation reported that an estimated 19.3% of online sales would be returned in 2025.
Source: National Retail Federation, October 15, 202582%
Online shoppers who say free returns matter
In the same 2025 retail returns study, 82% of consumers said free returns are an important consideration when shopping online.
Source: National Retail Federation, October 15, 2025Method and sources
How to use this page.
This page brings together national retail estimates, consumer spending data, and a retail-industry returns survey. It does not combine the figures into a new estimate, and it does not treat broad retail data as clothing-only unless the source does. Each statistic links to its original report and keeps its own reporting date.
For a citation, link to the statistic’s anchor, such as the 2025 online return rate, and name the original source in your work.
Suggested citation: “U.S. Clothing Shopping Statistics: 2026.” Her Next Move, updated September 30, 2026, https://mtfklolo.online/clothing-shopping-statistics/
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