50 Amazing Retail Shopper Statistics You Need to Know in 2025

Retail is moving at breakneck speed these days. I still remember when “going shopping” meant a Saturday trip to the mall, maybe a pretzel in hand, and a trunk full of bags. Now? My phone buzzes with deals, TikTok tells me what’s trending, and my groceries show up at my door before I can even find my shoes. As the co-founder of , I’m obsessed with how data and technology are reshaping the way we all shop—online, in-store, and everywhere in between.

But here’s the kicker: the global retail market is now worth a jaw-dropping (yes, with a “T”) and e-commerce alone is barreling toward ) in 2025. If you’re in retail, e-commerce, or just trying to keep up, understanding the latest retail statistics isn’t just trivia—it’s your roadmap to staying ahead.

Let’s dive into the numbers that are shaping how we all shop, sell, and compete in 2025.

Quick-Glance: Top Retail Shopper Statistics for 2025

Global retail sales hit $30.6 trillion in 2024, up 4.4% from the previous year ().
E-commerce makes up 19.6% of global retail revenue (about $6 trillion)—and is projected to reach 21% by 2025 ().
Mobile commerce accounts for 57% of global e-commerce transactions ().
Cart abandonment rates remain stubbornly high at 70%+ ().
Social commerce sales in the U.S. topped $71.6 billion in 2024, up 26% year-over-year ().
Over 90% of U.S. shoppers conduct online research before buying in-store ().
Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) usage surged to 43% of U.S. consumers in 2024 ().
85% of mobile shoppers prefer using a dedicated retail app over a mobile browser ().
Over one-third of consumers have tried a different brand for better prices, and 40% have switched retailers ().
54–55% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products ().

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg—let’s dig deeper.

The State of Retail: Key Retail Statistics Shaping 2025

Retail isn’t just surviving; it’s thriving—if you know where to look. In 2024, global retail sales reached , with e-commerce accounting for nearly . But here’s the twist: about 80% of sales still happen in brick-and-mortar stores, though in-store sales are growing at a slower pace (+3.6% YoY) compared to online (+7.6% YoY).

In the U.S., retail sales hit , with e-commerce making up of that total. And if you’re wondering if e-commerce is just a pandemic blip, think again—analysts expect U.S. online sales to climb to and keep rising.

But don’t count out the physical store. Nearly 40% of consumers shop in-store at least once a week, compared to 27% who buy online weekly (). The real story? Most shoppers are omnichannel—83% of U.S. consumers have shopped both online and in-store (). We’re mixing and matching channels based on what’s fastest, easiest, or just feels right.

And here’s a stat I love: 81–83% of retail shoppers do online research before buying in a brick-and-mortar store (). That’s the ROBO effect—Research Online, Buy Offline. It’s not just a trend; it’s the new normal.

Ecommerce Statistics: How Online Shopping is Transforming Retail

E-commerce is the rocket fuel of retail’s growth. In 2024, it made up , and projections show it’ll hit . In the U.S., e-commerce’s share is even higher when you exclude auto and fuel—22.7% of retail sales were online in 2024 ().

And the growth isn’t slowing down. Global e-commerce sales are expected to reach ), with worldwide retail projected to top $35.8 trillion by 2030.

Conversion Rates and Cart Abandonment

Let’s talk about the elephant in the checkout room: cart abandonment. The average cart abandonment rate is just over ), and it’s even higher on mobile (about 80%). That means only about 3 out of 10 online shopping carts turn into actual purchases.

Why do shoppers bail? The top reasons:

48% cite extra costs (shipping, taxes, fees) as the dealbreaker ().
24% abandon if forced to create an account.
Slow delivery and security concerns also make the list.

Average e-commerce conversion rates hover around 2–3% (desktop: ~3.8%, mobile: ~2.3%) (). So, if you’re getting 4%—pat yourself on the back (and maybe treat yourself to a pretzel).

Mobile Shopping Trends: Retail Shopper Statistics on the Go

I don’t know about you, but my phone is basically my shopping mall now. And I’m not alone.

57% of global e-commerce transactions are on mobile devices (), totaling about $2.07 trillion in 2024.
In the U.S., mobile retail sales hit $564 billion in 2024 and are on pace for $710+ billion by 2025 ().
98–99% of U.S. mobile shopping traffic comes from smartphones (not tablets) ().

And here’s a fun one: 85% of mobile shoppers prefer using a dedicated retail app over a mobile browser (). Retailers are racing to build better apps, and for good reason—90% of mobile internet time is spent in apps ().

Mobile Commerce Growth

By 2025, 44% of U.S. e-commerce sales will be via mobile (), and globally, mobile’s share is projected to hit 63% by 2028 ().

But here’s the catch: mobile conversion rates lag behind desktop (2.3% vs. 3.8%), and mobile cart abandonment is about 80% (). The smaller screen, clunky forms, and security worries are still hurdles. Retailers are working hard to fix this with one-click payments, autofill, and—yep—better apps.

If you’ve ever bought something because you saw it on TikTok or Instagram, you’re part of a tidal wave. Social commerce is exploding, especially among younger shoppers.

U.S. social commerce sales hit $71.6 billion in 2024, up 26% YoY ().
That number is projected to reach $85.6 billion in 2025 and surpass $100 billion soon after.
34% of Americans aged 18–34 make purchases via social media weekly ().
TikTok Shop captured 68% of U.S. social shopping GMV by early 2024 ().

Influencer and Video-Driven Purchases

74% of consumers have purchased something based on an influencer’s recommendation ().
Short-form video and influencer content are the top drivers of social commerce, especially for Gen Z and Millennials.
By 2025, the number of U.S. social commerce buyers will reach around 108 million ().

Social platforms are now the new product search engines—especially for Gen Z, who are more likely to “TikTok it” than Google it.

Digital Payments and Checkout: Ecommerce Statistics on Payment Preferences

Payments are getting smarter, faster, and more flexible. If you’re not offering digital wallets or BNPL, you’re probably losing sales.

53% of Americans used digital wallets more often than traditional payment methods in 2023 ().
Global digital wallet transactions hit $9 trillion in 2023, expected to reach $16 trillion by 2028 ().
72% of consumers say they’d abandon their cart if their preferred payment method isn’t offered ().

Buy Now, Pay Later and Digital Wallets

43% of U.S. consumers have used BNPL (), with 46% of Gen Z and 47% of Millennials using it in the past year ().
BNPL orders are 18% larger on average than non-BNPL orders ().
Offering digital wallets and BNPL can increase conversion rates by up to 20–30% ().

If you’re still asking customers to type in their card number on mobile, it’s time for an upgrade.

Consumer Habits: Retail Shopper Statistics on Research, Loyalty, and Brand Switching

Shoppers are savvier than ever—and less loyal. They’ll switch brands for a deal, but they’ll also stick around if you treat them right.

Over one-third of consumers have tried a different brand and 40% have switched retailers for better prices ().
72% say better deals or prices have caused them to switch brands ().
65% of consumers plan to rely on loyalty program benefits to save money ().
67% actively hunt for discounts or special offers before buying ().

Deal-Seeking and Loyalty Trends

73% feel more emotionally connected to brands that give them exclusive offers ().
80% of U.S. adults are members of at least one retail loyalty program.
77% say personalized promotions can increase their loyalty.

But don’t get too comfortable—52% have abandoned a brand that became too expensive in the past year.

The Role of Technology: AR, AI, and Personalization in Retail

If you’re not using AR or AI in your retail strategy, you’re missing out on both sales and smiles.

Over 90% of Americans are open to using AR for shopping, and 98% of those who’ve tried it found it helpful ().
1.73 billion AR-capable smartphones are in use worldwide ().
74% of e-commerce companies have a website personalization program ().
89% of retail businesses are investing in AI for personalization, and 88% for dynamic pricing ().
77% of consumers prefer brands that offer personalized, data-based experiences ().

Augmented Reality and AI in Retail

AR features can double or triple conversion rates for those who use them.
70%+ of customer interactions in retail are at least partly aided by AI.
69% of retailers report increased annual revenue from adopting AI ().
82% of retail leaders plan to spend more on AI-driven personalization tools in 2025 ().

But a word of caution—over-personalization can backfire: shoppers are 3× more likely to abandon brands that get too invasive.

Sustainability and Ethics: Retail Shopper Statistics on Conscious Consumerism

Sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a bottom-line issue.

54–55% of consumers are willing to pay more for sustainable products ().
84% say poor environmental practices will alienate them from a brand ().
88% prioritize buying from companies with ethical sourcing ().
44% of consumers globally are buying more second-hand items ().
94% are more likely to be loyal to brands that offer complete transparency ().

Gen Z and Millennials are leading the charge—64% of Gen Z would boycott a brand that doesn’t align with their values ().

Generational Differences: Retail and Ecommerce Statistics by Age Group

67% of Millennials prefer online shopping (), while 72% of Boomers prefer in-store.
34% of Americans aged 18–34 buy via social media weekly, but social commerce among Boomers is minimal ().
91% of Gen Z used digital wallets as their primary payment method in 2023 ().
46–47% of Gen Z and Millennials have used BNPL recently ().
Millennials are most likely (71%) to leverage loyalty accounts for discounts ().
Gen Z is the most values-driven—they’ll research, switch, and even boycott based on ethics and sustainability.

If you’re selling to Gen Z, you’d better be on TikTok, offer Apple Pay, and have a sustainability page that’s more than just green stock photos.

Key Takeaways: What These Retail Shopper Statistics Mean for Your Business

So, what do all these numbers mean for you, whether you’re running a Shopify store, managing a retail chain, or just trying to keep your brand relevant?

Omnichannel is table stakes: Shoppers expect to move fluidly between online and in-store. Make sure your data, inventory, and customer experience are connected.
Mobile isn’t just the future—it’s the present: Invest in your app, streamline mobile checkout, and offer digital wallets.
Social commerce is the new mall: If you’re not leveraging influencers, video, and shoppable posts, you’re missing out—especially with younger shoppers.
Payment flexibility drives conversion: Offer digital wallets and BNPL to reduce friction and boost average order value.
Personalization and tech pay off: Use AI and AR to make shopping more relevant and fun—but don’t get creepy.
Sustainability is a must-have: Be transparent, ethical, and authentic. Your future customers are watching (and Googling).
Loyalty is up for grabs: Deals, rewards, and exclusive offers keep shoppers coming back—but price and value still rule.
Generational nuance matters: Tailor your marketing, channels, and offers to the preferences of each age group.

And if you want to make your own retail data work harder for you—whether it’s scraping competitor prices, tracking product reviews, or automating research—check out . We built it to make data entry and web research as easy as shopping on your phone (and yes, you can export straight to Excel, Google Sheets, Airtable, or Notion).

Sources and Further Reading

Want to dive deeper? Here are some of the best resources and reports I used for this roundup:

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For more insights, tips, and the latest on AI-powered retail tools, check out the . And if you made it this far, treat yourself to a snack—you’ve earned it.

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