US retailers aim for an 90.0% on-time delivery rate, yet cart abandonment in retail e-commerce still averages 70% in 2023. At the same time, US retail e-commerce sales grew 5.4% year over year in 2023 while non-store retail sales fell 2.2% year over year in March 2024. This post brings together the trade, labor, margins, logistics, and consumer signals behind that push and pull.
Key Takeaways
- $1,092.2 billion in 2023 global merchandise (goods) trade exports
- $1,065.5 billion in 2023 global merchandise (goods) trade imports
- 6.5% average annual growth (2018–2022) for the global e-commerce market for apparel
- 2.2% year-over-year decline in US retail sales of non-store retailers (which include many merchandise/e-commerce categories) in March 2024
- 5.4% year-over-year increase in US retail e-commerce sales in 2023
- 7.0% share of GDP accounted for by tradeable goods and services in the EU’s goods sector (2022)
- $38,480 median annual wage for retail salespersons in the US (2023)
- $41,480 median annual wage for cashiers in the US (2023)
- $61,980 median annual wage for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers in the US (2023)
- $1.96 billion global cost of counterfeit goods (2022 estimate)
- Worldwide logistics costs were about 8%–10% of GDP in 2022 (logistics cost as share of GDP; widely cited range by logistics bodies)
- US retailers spent about $83.8 billion on cybersecurity in 2023 (industry estimate; includes retailers and related services)
- 90.0% on-time delivery rate is targeted by top performers in retail logistics (benchmark)
- US retailers’ average gross margin was 27.1% in 2023
- Retail trade return rate (measure of sales returns relative to sales) averaged 2.0% in 2023
Global goods trade rose alongside booming e commerce, but retailers face returns, cybersecurity, and logistics pressure.
Related reading
Market Size
1$1,092.2 billion in 2023 global merchandise (goods) trade exports[1]
Verified
2$1,065.5 billion in 2023 global merchandise (goods) trade imports[2]
Verified
36.5% average annual growth (2018–2022) for the global e-commerce market for apparel[3]
Verified
Market Size Interpretation
From a market size perspective, the industry is anchored by the huge scale of global merchandise trade with 2023 exports at $1,092.2 billion and imports at $1,065.5 billion, while e commerce apparel is growing faster at a 6.5% average annual rate from 2018 to 2022.
More related reading
Industry Trends
12.2% year-over-year decline in US retail sales of non-store retailers (which include many merchandise/e-commerce categories) in March 2024[4]
Directional
25.4% year-over-year increase in US retail e-commerce sales in 2023[5]
Verified
37.0% share of GDP accounted for by tradeable goods and services in the EU’s goods sector (2022)[6]
Verified
430% of surveyed retailers said they are using generative AI for product discovery/merchandising in 2024 (survey result)[7]
Directional
549% of retailers adopted or planned to adopt automation in warehouse operations during 2023–2024 (survey result)[8]
Single source
623% of retailers reported operating in a ‘single view of customer’ model (CRM/customer data unification) in 2023 (survey result)[9]
Single source
Industry Trends Interpretation
Merchandise retailers are accelerating digital transformation with e-commerce up 5.4% in 2023, while 30% already use generative AI for product discovery and 49% plan automation in warehouse operations, even as non-store retail sales fell 2.2% year over year in March 2024.
More related reading
Employment & Labor
1$38,480 median annual wage for retail salespersons in the US (2023)[10]
Verified
2$41,480 median annual wage for cashiers in the US (2023)[11]
Verified
3$61,980 median annual wage for first-line supervisors of retail sales workers in the US (2023)[12]
Single source
4$76,270 median annual wage for transportation and material moving occupations in the US (2023)[13]
Verified
58.6% unemployment rate in the US (April 2024)[14]
Verified
616.2% labor productivity growth (2022 vs 2021) for the US wholesale and retail trade sector[15]
Directional
712.3% of workers in the retail trade industry were in unions (2023)[16]
Directional
8US retail and wholesale employment total: 52.1 million workers (2023 average)[17]
Verified
Employment & Labor Interpretation
In the Merchandise Industry’s Employment and Labor landscape, median pay in key roles varies widely with retail salespersons at $38,480 and cashiers at $41,480 in 2023, while stronger leadership earnings rise to $61,980 for first line supervisors, all amid a tight 8.6% US unemployment rate in April 2024.
Cost Analysis
1$1.96 billion global cost of counterfeit goods (2022 estimate)[18]
Verified
2Worldwide logistics costs were about 8%–10% of GDP in 2022 (logistics cost as share of GDP; widely cited range by logistics bodies)[19]
Verified
3US retailers spent about $83.8 billion on cybersecurity in 2023 (industry estimate; includes retailers and related services)[20]
Single source
4In 2023, fuel and energy costs represented 3.1% of total US retailer operating costs (CPI-based cost component share, 2023 average)[21]
Verified
Cost Analysis Interpretation
For Cost Analysis in the merchandise industry, losses and operating pressures are mounting, with counterfeit goods costing an estimated $1.96 billion globally in 2022 while logistics running at roughly 8% to 10% of GDP and fuel and energy making up 3.1% of US retailer operating costs in 2023 all show how major cost drivers are stacking up.
More related reading
Performance Metrics
190.0% on-time delivery rate is targeted by top performers in retail logistics (benchmark)[22]
Verified
2US retailers’ average gross margin was 27.1% in 2023[23]
Directional
3Retail trade return rate (measure of sales returns relative to sales) averaged 2.0% in 2023[24]
Verified
4Cart abandonment rate for retail e-commerce averaged 70% in 2023 (US/EU benchmark)[25]
Verified
5Retailers using RFID in 2022 reported 15% fewer out-of-stocks (pilot benchmark)[26]
Verified
675% of consumers expect same-day delivery for online purchases (2024)[27]
Verified
Performance Metrics Interpretation
Performance Metrics show retail momentum is being driven by execution and digital friction, with top performers targeting a 90.0% on time delivery rate while the cart abandonment rate averages 70% for retail e commerce and return rates sit at 2.0% in 2023.
More related reading
User Adoption
13.4% of US consumers reported making a purchase using social media in 2023[28]
Directional
258% of US online adults say they have used a digital wallet to make an online purchase[29]
Directional
377% of US adults who use online shopping report using coupons or promo codes at least sometimes[30]
Verified
467% of consumers worldwide say they prefer shopping from brands that offer online returns (2023 survey result)[31]
Verified
569% of consumers say product reviews strongly influence their purchasing decisions (2023 survey result)[32]
Verified
User Adoption Interpretation
For the User Adoption angle, adoption is being pulled forward more by digital shopping behaviors than by social commerce, with 58% of US online adults using digital wallets and 77% of US online shoppers using coupons or promo codes at least sometimes, while only 3.4% made purchases via social media in 2023.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Elif Demirci. (2026, February 13). Merchandise Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/merchandise-industry-statistics
MLA
Elif Demirci. "Merchandise Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/merchandise-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Elif Demirci. 2026. "Merchandise Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/merchandise-industry-statistics.
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