Style-up reference desk
U.S. apparel
shopping statistics.
Six current figures on how Americans shop for apparel, from e-commerce momentum to household spending and returns.
Last updated October 9, 2026A quick read on the market.
For writers, retailers, and curious shoppers, this page gathers a small set of specific, attributable figures from public agencies and established retail research. Each statistic links directly to its original source and publication date.
$340.2B
U.S. retail e-commerce sales in Q2 2026
The seasonally adjusted estimate rose 3.8% from the prior quarter.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026 ↗+12.2%
year-over-year growth in U.S. e-commerce sales
The Q2 2026 estimate outpaced total retail sales growth of 6.7% over the same period.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, August 18, 2026 ↗$2,001
average annual U.S. household spending on apparel and services in 2024
That category represented 2.5% of average annual consumer expenditures.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures 2024, December 19, 2025 ↗$278.4B
estimated 2025 U.S. sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores
The Census Bureau reports this annual estimate for NAICS 448, a useful view of apparel-specialty retail activity.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade, December 2025 release ↗15.8%
of annual retail sales retailers expected to be returned in 2025
The National Retail Federation and Happy Returns estimated the value of those returns at $849.9 billion.
Source: National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, 2025 Retail Returns Landscape, October 15, 2025 ↗Method and sources
Built to be cited clearly.
Figures are quoted as published by the source, with the source date shown beside each one. The Census Bureau’s e-commerce figures are seasonally adjusted estimates; the clothing-store figure is an annual retail estimate. “Apparel and services” follows the Bureau of Labor Statistics category name. We will refresh this page when a key source releases newer data, while keeping these individual statistic links stable.
Suggested citation: Style-up, “U.S. Apparel Shopping Statistics,” updated October 9, 2026, https://style-up.online/resources/apparel-shopping-statistics.
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