The U.S. Census Bureau has released its latest Annual Retail Trade Survey showing a 3.1% increase in the nation’s entire retail sales sector from $5,402.3 billion in 2019 to $5,570.4 billion in 2020.
Electronic shopping and mail-order houses had $888.5 billion in sales in 2020, up 35.2% from 2019. This was the largest year-to-year increase of any industry in 2020.
Other highlights frome the report issued on Thursday:
- Motor vehicle and parts dealers’ sales decreased 2.4% from $1,237.7 billion in 2019 to $1,208.3 billion in 2020.
- Grocery store sales increased 9.4% from $694.3 billion in 2019 to $759.7 billion in 2020.
- Gasoline station sales decreased 16.6% from $513.5 billion in 2019 to $428.1 billion in 2020.
The Census Bureau has conducted the Annual Retal Trade Survey (ARTS) since 1952. ARTS includes 16,500 U.S. employer businesses that sell directly to consumers classified in the retail trade sector in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
