All signs point to further e-commerce growth

Article Excerpt

Online commerce exploded for 2020 and 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic limited consumers’ access to shopping malls and other traditional shopping outlets. However, as shoppers returned to physical stores in 2022 the rapid growth rate of online shopping slowed. Still, estimates indicate that the strong uptrend of online shopping has resumed in 2023 and will continue in the years ahead. Growth slowed after pandemic boost Global e-commerce retail sales (which includes all products and services ordered using the Internet, excluding travel, events, and money transfers) jumped by 50% between 2019 and 2021 to $5.0 trillion according to estimates from consulting firm eMarketer. However, as shoppers returned to physical stores in 2022, e-commerce growth slowed globally to 6.5%. The U.S. saw an 8.5% growth rate and Canada only 1.3%. In Western Europe, online sales declined slightly. From 2023 onwards, e-commerce has returned to its rapid growth pattern (see graph)—and the global growth rate is estimated at a solid 9% per year going forward. The U.S….