E-commerce sales continue to surge

U.S. e-commerce retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2017 totaled $119 billion, an increase of 3.2 percent compared with the third quarter, the Census Bureau reported on Feb. 16.

Total retail sales for the fourth quarter of 2017 were estimated at $1,304.3 billion, an increase of 2.7 percent (±0.4 percent) from the third quarter of 2017. The fourth quarter 2017 e-commerce estimate increased 16.9 percent (±1.1 percent) from the fourth quarter of 2016 while total retail sales increased 5.7 percent (±0.4 percent) in the same period. E-commerce sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 accounted for 9.1 percent of total sales.

Total e-commerce sales for 2017 were estimated at $453.5 billion, an increase of 16.0 percent (±1.2 percent) from 2016. Total retail sales in 2017 increased 4.4 percent (±0.4 percent) from 2016. E-commerce sales in 2017 accounted for 8.9 percent of total sales. E-commerce sales in 2016 accounted for 8.0 percent of total sales.