GITNUXREPORT 2025

Retailing Industry Statistics

Retail industry evolving rapidly with digital growth and sustainable, personalized shopping

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

In the United States, about 60% of retail sales occur in physical stores

Statistic 2

About 72% of consumers prefer to shop in-store rather than online

Statistic 3

The average American spends approximately $638 per month on retail goods and services

Statistic 4

67% of shoppers are willing to pay more for a better shopping experience

Statistic 5

85% of consumers conduct online research before purchasing in-store

Statistic 6

48% of consumers send a message to retailers on social media for purchase inquiries

Statistic 7

About 65% of consumers prefer to shop at stores that offer personalized experiences

Statistic 8

58% of consumers have abandoned a purchase due to lack of payment options

Statistic 9

About 43% of retail sales are influenced by social media

Statistic 10

The average spend per shopping trip in the U.S. is approximately $142

Statistic 11

Approximately 52% of consumers shop online at least once a week

Statistic 12

73% of retail shoppers want to see more sustainable products in stores

Statistic 13

76% of consumers prefer to buy from brands that are environmentally friendly

Statistic 14

42% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that offer free shipping

Statistic 15

50% of retail purchases are influenced by recommendations from social media

Statistic 16

68% of apparel retail sales are made online or via mobile platforms

Statistic 17

The average retail store footprint in the U.S. has decreased by 25% since 2010 due to shifting consumer behavior

Statistic 18

79% of consumers prefer to shop stores that offer easy navigation and checkout

Statistic 19

55% of consumers prefer buying from retail stores that prioritize sustainability

Statistic 20

42% of consumers abandoned online carts due to high shipping costs

Statistic 21

E-commerce sales accounted for about 19.5% of all retail sales worldwide in 2021

Statistic 22

Mobile retail commerce sales reached $361 billion in 2022 in the U.S., representing 44% of total e-commerce sales

Statistic 23

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online shopping growth by 30% in 2020

Statistic 24

Online grocery shopping accounted for 11% of total grocery sales globally in 2021

Statistic 25

Digital coupon usage in retail increased by 20% from 2021 to 2022

Statistic 26

The average return rate for online retail purchases is approximately 20%

Statistic 27

The top three online retailers by sales are Amazon, Alibaba, and JD.com

Statistic 28

Retail spending via voice commands surpassed $4 billion in 2022 in the U.S.

Statistic 29

Retail sales through social media channels reached an estimated $45 billion in 2022

Statistic 30

Approximately 45% of retail sales are now made via online platforms

Statistic 31

The average ROI of retail digital marketing campaigns is approximately 240%

Statistic 32

The global retail market size was valued at approximately $25.04 trillion in 2022

Statistic 33

The top three retail sectors by revenue are grocery, apparel, and electronics

Statistic 34

The worldwide retail AI market is projected to reach $23 billion by 2028

Statistic 35

The global gift card market is valued at over $600 billion, with retail being one of the primary sectors

Statistic 36

The retail loyalty market is projected to reach $7.2 billion by 2025

Statistic 37

The discount store segment makes up approximately 35% of total retail sales in the U.S.

Statistic 38

The top 10 global retail companies account for over $1.5 trillion in combined revenue

Statistic 39

The global fashion retail market size was valued at $1.9 trillion in 2022

Statistic 40

Retail automation market is projected to reach $17.2 billion globally by 2027

Statistic 41

The worldwide retail catalog management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2022 to 2028

Statistic 42

The global pet retail market was valued at over $148 billion in 2022

Statistic 43

The global smart store market is expected to grow from $7.9 billion in 2022 to $25.8 billion by 2030

Statistic 44

The global eco-friendly packaging market in retail is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2022 to 2030

Statistic 45

The specialty food retail segment is growing at a CAGR of 3.8%, reaching a global market value of $173 billion by 2023

Statistic 46

The direct retail automation market is valued at approximately $4 billion in 2023, with projected growth to $17.2 billion by 2027

Statistic 47

The retail logistics industry is projected to grow to $1.2 trillion globally by 2025

Statistic 48

The global retail robotics market is expected to reach $4.8 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 26%

Statistic 49

The retail industry is responsible for approximately 2.8 trillion pounds of carbon emissions annually

Statistic 50

The top five retail countries by e-commerce sales are China, the U.S., the UK, Japan, and Germany

Statistic 51

Retail investment in digital transformation increased by 49% in 2022

Statistic 52

The use of augmented reality (AR) in retail is expected to grow at a CAGR of 43% from 2022 to 2028

Statistic 53

The average retail employee turnover rate is approximately 60% annually

Statistic 54

Retail stores that integrate omnichannel strategies see an average sales increase of 25%

Statistic 55

The average checkout time in retail stores has decreased by 20% due to automation and self-checkout options

Statistic 56

75% of retail stores are planning to increase their AI investments in 2023

Statistic 57

The use of chatbots in retail customer service is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% from 2022 to 2028

Statistic 58

Self-checkout adoption in retail stores has increased by 55% since 2019

Statistic 59

Retail employment is expected to grow by about 3.5 million jobs worldwide by 2030

Statistic 60

The average profit margin in retail sectors is around 2-4%

Statistic 61

The number of brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. has declined by approximately 200,000 since 2019 due to e-commerce growth

Statistic 62

66% of retail CEOs prioritize digital transformation investment for growth

Statistic 63

The most common retail checkout method worldwide is the traditional counter checkout, used by 70% of stores

Statistic 64

Approximately 85% of retail companies plan to adopt contactless payments in the next two years

Statistic 65

The use of big data analytics in retail is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14% from 2022 to 2028

Statistic 66

The total retail space in malls in the U.S. has declined by nearly 30% since 2010, reflecting shifts in shopping patterns

Statistic 67

The average wait time for retail customer service responses has decreased by 18% due to technological improvements

Statistic 68

80% of retail executives see omnichannel as key to future growth

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Key Highlights

The global retail market size was valued at approximately $25.04 trillion in 2022
E-commerce sales accounted for about 19.5% of all retail sales worldwide in 2021
In the United States, about 60% of retail sales occur in physical stores
Mobile retail commerce sales reached $361 billion in 2022 in the U.S., representing 44% of total e-commerce sales
About 72% of consumers prefer to shop in-store rather than online
The average American spends approximately $638 per month on retail goods and services
The top three retail sectors by revenue are grocery, apparel, and electronics
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online shopping growth by 30% in 2020
The worldwide retail AI market is projected to reach $23 billion by 2028
67% of shoppers are willing to pay more for a better shopping experience
Retail investment in digital transformation increased by 49% in 2022
The use of augmented reality (AR) in retail is expected to grow at a CAGR of 43% from 2022 to 2028
85% of consumers conduct online research before purchasing in-store

The retail industry is undergoing a seismic shift, fueled by digital innovation, changing consumer preferences, and a global market valued at over $25 trillion, transforming how, where, and what we shop for in ways never imagined.

Consumer Shopping Preferences and Behaviors

In the United States, about 60% of retail sales occur in physical stores
About 72% of consumers prefer to shop in-store rather than online
The average American spends approximately $638 per month on retail goods and services
67% of shoppers are willing to pay more for a better shopping experience
85% of consumers conduct online research before purchasing in-store
48% of consumers send a message to retailers on social media for purchase inquiries
About 65% of consumers prefer to shop at stores that offer personalized experiences
58% of consumers have abandoned a purchase due to lack of payment options
About 43% of retail sales are influenced by social media
The average spend per shopping trip in the U.S. is approximately $142
Approximately 52% of consumers shop online at least once a week
73% of retail shoppers want to see more sustainable products in stores
76% of consumers prefer to buy from brands that are environmentally friendly
42% of consumers are more likely to buy from brands that offer free shipping
50% of retail purchases are influenced by recommendations from social media
68% of apparel retail sales are made online or via mobile platforms
The average retail store footprint in the U.S. has decreased by 25% since 2010 due to shifting consumer behavior
79% of consumers prefer to shop stores that offer easy navigation and checkout
55% of consumers prefer buying from retail stores that prioritize sustainability
42% of consumers abandoned online carts due to high shipping costs

Consumer Shopping Preferences and Behaviors Interpretation

Despite consumers' preference for in-store shopping and personalized experiences, retailers must navigate a digital landscape heavily influenced by social media, sustainability, and seamless payment options, as nearly half abandon carts over high shipping costs and preferences shift toward environmentally friendly brands.

E-commerce and Digital Sales Metrics

E-commerce sales accounted for about 19.5% of all retail sales worldwide in 2021
Mobile retail commerce sales reached $361 billion in 2022 in the U.S., representing 44% of total e-commerce sales
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated online shopping growth by 30% in 2020
Online grocery shopping accounted for 11% of total grocery sales globally in 2021
Digital coupon usage in retail increased by 20% from 2021 to 2022
The average return rate for online retail purchases is approximately 20%
The top three online retailers by sales are Amazon, Alibaba, and JD.com
Retail spending via voice commands surpassed $4 billion in 2022 in the U.S.
Retail sales through social media channels reached an estimated $45 billion in 2022
Approximately 45% of retail sales are now made via online platforms
The average ROI of retail digital marketing campaigns is approximately 240%

E-commerce and Digital Sales Metrics Interpretation

The retail landscape is rapidly shifting towards digital dominance—with online sales already claiming nearly half of all retail revenue, mobile commerce surpassing $360 billion, and innovative channels like voice and social media driving billions, all while staggering return rates and growing coupon use underscore a landscape where agility and data-driven strategies have become essential for survival.

Market Size and Value

The global retail market size was valued at approximately $25.04 trillion in 2022
The top three retail sectors by revenue are grocery, apparel, and electronics
The worldwide retail AI market is projected to reach $23 billion by 2028
The global gift card market is valued at over $600 billion, with retail being one of the primary sectors
The retail loyalty market is projected to reach $7.2 billion by 2025
The discount store segment makes up approximately 35% of total retail sales in the U.S.
The top 10 global retail companies account for over $1.5 trillion in combined revenue
The global fashion retail market size was valued at $1.9 trillion in 2022
Retail automation market is projected to reach $17.2 billion globally by 2027
The worldwide retail catalog management market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.5% from 2022 to 2028
The global pet retail market was valued at over $148 billion in 2022
The global smart store market is expected to grow from $7.9 billion in 2022 to $25.8 billion by 2030
The global eco-friendly packaging market in retail is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2022 to 2030
The specialty food retail segment is growing at a CAGR of 3.8%, reaching a global market value of $173 billion by 2023
The direct retail automation market is valued at approximately $4 billion in 2023, with projected growth to $17.2 billion by 2027
The retail logistics industry is projected to grow to $1.2 trillion globally by 2025
The global retail robotics market is expected to reach $4.8 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 26%
The retail industry is responsible for approximately 2.8 trillion pounds of carbon emissions annually
The top five retail countries by e-commerce sales are China, the U.S., the UK, Japan, and Germany

Market Size and Value Interpretation

As the retail industry surges to a staggering $25 trillion with ambitions for smarter, greener, and more automated shopping experiences, it's clear that the only thing growing faster than the market itself is our appetite—making it both a global powerhouse and a pressing responsibility.

Retail Industry Trends and Strategies

Retail investment in digital transformation increased by 49% in 2022
The use of augmented reality (AR) in retail is expected to grow at a CAGR of 43% from 2022 to 2028
The average retail employee turnover rate is approximately 60% annually
Retail stores that integrate omnichannel strategies see an average sales increase of 25%
The average checkout time in retail stores has decreased by 20% due to automation and self-checkout options
75% of retail stores are planning to increase their AI investments in 2023
The use of chatbots in retail customer service is expected to grow at a CAGR of 24% from 2022 to 2028
Self-checkout adoption in retail stores has increased by 55% since 2019
Retail employment is expected to grow by about 3.5 million jobs worldwide by 2030
The average profit margin in retail sectors is around 2-4%
The number of brick-and-mortar stores in the U.S. has declined by approximately 200,000 since 2019 due to e-commerce growth
66% of retail CEOs prioritize digital transformation investment for growth
The most common retail checkout method worldwide is the traditional counter checkout, used by 70% of stores
Approximately 85% of retail companies plan to adopt contactless payments in the next two years
The use of big data analytics in retail is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14% from 2022 to 2028
The total retail space in malls in the U.S. has declined by nearly 30% since 2010, reflecting shifts in shopping patterns
The average wait time for retail customer service responses has decreased by 18% due to technological improvements
80% of retail executives see omnichannel as key to future growth

Retail Industry Trends and Strategies Interpretation

Despite a sharp rise in digital investments and innovations like AR, AI, and contactless payments transforming the retail landscape, persistent challenges such as high employee turnover and declining brick-and-mortar footprints underscore that in retail, technological progress alone isn't enough to guarantee sustained success.