Global E-Commerce

Global E-Commerce

This report forecasts to 2023 and 2028 global business-to-consumer e-commerce sales by product and major world region in nominal US dollars at the retail level. Product segments include: computers, electronics, and software (e.g., computer hardware, electric appliances, and cell phones); apparel and accessories (e.g., clothing and shoes); recreation goods (e.g., toys, games, and sporting goods); home furnishings (e.g., furniture and home decorations); other merchandise (e.g., books, music, videos, healthcare products, beauty products, food, beverages, lawn and garden products, and automotive products); and services (e.g., ticket sales, streaming services, dating services, insurance sales, and travel reservations). Global sales are also segmented by major world region as follows: North America, Western Europe, Asia/Pacific, and Other Regions (Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Africa/Mideast).

To illustrate historical trends, world, product, and regional demand are provided for 2013 and 2018.

In this report, sales include all online transactions, including retail sales of products and services, between businesses and consumers using devices that access the internet, such as: desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones, point-of-sales transactions using contactless payment, and smart wearables. Sales made through retailer websites, physical stores (online in store), email, QR codes, catalogs, and smartphone apps are all included. Additionally, Value-Added Tax, sales tax, and delivery costs are included in sales figures.

Excluded from the scope of this report are: consumer-to-consumer transactions (e.g., a private individual selling used items through an online marketplace); business-to-business transactions (e.g., a business purchasing software online); online gambling and gaming transactions; online sales of cars and other motor vehicles; online transactions involving houses and real estate; utility payments such as water, heating, and electricity made online; payments made on mortgages, loans, credit cards, and overdrafts; deposits and withdrawals from savings or checking accounts, stocks, shares, and bonds; and returned items.

For any given historical year, US dollar amounts are obtained from values expressed in the applicable local currency. These local currency values are converted to US dollars at the average annual exchange rate for that year. For forecast years, the US dollar amounts assume the same annual exchange rate as that prevailing in 2017.

Other various topics, including discussion of supplier types, are covered in this report. A full outline of report items by page is available in the Table of Contents.

Related NAICS Codes:
454111 Electronic Shopping
454112 Electronic Auctions