U.S. retail ecommerce sales grew year over year in July, but they declined compared to June — the first month-over-month decrease in 2026, according to Digital Commerce 360 analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
In part, that sequential decline stemmed from Amazon moving its summer Prime Day event to June in 2026. Historically, Amazon has held the summer edition of its Prime Day event in July. Aside from 2026, the exceptions to that have been in 2020 and 2021. In those years, respectively, the event fell in October and June.
U.S. consumers spent $26.4 billion online from June 23 to 26, when Amazon held the event. That led to a 14.2% year-over-year increase in June ecommerce sales as other U.S. retailers offered discounts on their own sites, timed with Amazon’s event.
That was the first time June’s online retail sales grew at a double-digit rate since 2021. In contrast, July online retail sales grew just 4.7% in 2021 and have not grown at a double-digit rate since 2023.
In the backdrop, total U.S. retail sales showed a similar trend to ecommerce in July. Total retail sales grew year over year in July, but they declined compared to June, Digital Commerce 360 analysis found. And as with ecommerce, that was the first month-over-month decrease in 2026.
Total U.S. retail sales in July 2026 reached $763.6 billion, growing by more than $35 billion compared to the same month in 2026 ($727.18 billion). However, that July 2026 total is less than each of the two prior months. June’s total retail sales reached 768.07 billion, growing compared to May’s $766.19 billion.
Notably, the U.S. has not seen a year-over-year decline in a month’s total retail sales since May 2020, Commerce Department data shows — a result of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
U.S. retail ecommerce sales in July 2026
In July 2026, U.S. retail ecommerce sales dipped to their lowest since March.
July 2026 ecommerce sales totaled $136.9 billion, declining 2.2% compared to June. However, July’s online retail sales still increased 7.7% year over year.
In addition, July ecommerce sales exceeded those of any individual month prior to 2026.
2026 marked the fourth time July’s online retail sales increased year over year by a single-digit percentage since 2019. Since the 34.9% year-over-year increase in 2020, only 2022 and 2023 have seen double-digit growth in July ecommerce sales.
At least since January 2019, no month has seen a year-over-year decline in U.S. online retail sales. Additionally, growth has not been flat year over year in any of those months. Rather, any declines in that time period have been month over month.
Ecommerce sales calculations
Digital Commerce 360 studies commerce department data and excludes spending in segments that don’t typically sell online. These segments include:
- Restaurants
- Bars
- Automobile dealers
- Gas stations
- Fuel dealers
U.S. ecommerce penetration reflects the share of dollars consumers could potentially spend online.
The Commerce Department defines ecommerce sales as the sales of goods and services where an order is placed by the buyer or when price and terms of sales are negotiated over:
- Internet
- Extranet
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) network
- Electronic mail
- Other online system
Payment may or may not be made online. The Commerce Department publishes estimates that it adjusts for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.
Percentage changes may not align exactly with dollar figures due to rounding. Click here to read the previous month’s update on U.S. online retail sales.
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