E-Commerce Sales Exceed $1 Trillion for First Time Ever

 For the first time since the Internet's inception, e-commerce sales exceeded $1 trillion during 2012, according to eMarketer.

The milestone represented a 21.1 percent increase in sales from 2011. During 2013, the firm believes e-commerce sales will grow by 18.3 percent, which will result in $1.3 trillion in worldwide e-commerce sales.

North America is expected to lose its position as the leading e-commerce market to the Asia-Pacific region. In 2012, Asia-Pacific's share of global e-commerce spending stood at 30.5 percent, with North America boasting a 33.5 percent share. This year, though, the Asia-Pacific region is estimated to account for 33.4 percent of spending, followed by North America's forecasted 31.5 percent share.

During 2012, Americans spent $343.4 billion on goods purchased online. According to eMarketer, that figure is expected to increase to $384.8 billion in 2013, while China is anticipated to spend $181.6 billion.

Consumers spent $35 billion in 2012's holiday shopping season, with U.S. shoppers spending a record $7 billion during the week of December 8 until December 14. The week preceding that saw e-commerce sales surpassing $1 billion on three individual days. Cyber Monday, meanwhile, set the record of online spending in a single day with $1.46 billion in sales.

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  • virtualban
    This is the natural evolution of everything: search the easiest way to do get the best result.
    Now let's wait till we are all plugged in, "matrix" or "surrogates" style.
    Reply
  • bender3000
    Great! More data to encourage those lawmakers seeking to increase taxes for online purchases. *sigh*
    Reply
  • Fulgurant
    bender3000Great! More data to encourage those lawmakers seeking to increase taxes for online purchases. *sigh*
    So if I'm reading the article correctly, all online sales across the world for an entire year are equivalent to about 26% of the US Federal Government's annual expenditures.

    Pretty sobering.
    Reply
  • Antimatter79
    My wife loves Amazon Prime and I believe she is responsible for much of this.
    Reply
  • buckcm
    Inflation?
    Reply
  • f-14
    and american law makers want to tax it. that measly 335 billion in sales would amount to 24 billion in taxes, while congress spends 100+ billion a month reckless run away out of control spending spree on the poor.
    internet sales taxes will not save them or staunch the megahemorrhage of wealth from america.
    8.4 trillion to 16.4 trillion in 3&1/2 years and soon to be 22-24 trillion in in 3 more years according to the CBO.
    remember how the U.S.S.R. collapsed? it was from alot less debt than this!

    mean while the dollar is becoming more an more worthless as leaves are becoming more scarce than it!
    loving your free trade deals brought to you by pot smoker 'slippery willy' clinton called NAFTA, WTO, PNTR with CHINA, ASFTA (Nobama)?
    that's trillions of dollars in tax money lost every year due to those in taxable good and taxable jobs.
    Reply
  • Gundam288
    f-14loving your free trade deals brought to you by pot smoker 'slippery willy' clinton called NAFTA, WTO, PNTR with CHINA, ASFTA (Nobama)?There is nothing wrong with smoking pot if you are responsible, just like alcohol.
    Reply
  • shopnix
    I guess much of the US market growth can be attributed to the surge of Smart Phones and mCommerce. But the growth of APAC markets is quite surprising - wonder whats behind it - growing broadband penetration?
    Reply