50+ Retail Technology Statistics: Market Size, Trends, and Data for 2026

Quick Stats: Retail Technology in 2026 and Beyond● The global retail market was valued at $28.12 trillion in 2025 and is projected to reach $29.79 trillion in 2026.● Global eCommerce sales reached $6.86 trillion in 2025, accounting for approximately 20% of total global retail sales.● US eCommerce sales totaled $1.2337 trillion in 2025, growing 5.4% YoY.● The average eCommerce cart abandonment rate stands at 70.22%.● The global mobile commerce market is expected to reach $2.82 trillion in 2026 and grow to $4.16 trillion by 2031.● 91% of retailers are already using or assessing AI, while 90% plan to increase their AI budgets in 2026.● Despite widespread AI adoption, only 7% of retailers have reached fully scaled AI deployment.● AI-referred shoppers converted 31% higher than average shoppers during the 2025 holiday season.

Every day, we work with retailers and eCommerce leaders who are drowning in information about their industry but starving for clarity. They hear AI is essential, so they fund AI projects. They read that mobile is critical, so they shift budgets mobile-ward. They're told checkout optimization matters, so they commission it. But few can answer the question that actually matters: what will this investment return?

The problem isn't the lack of data. It's the lack of reliable data.

Most retail technology decisions float on the foundation of vendor claims, conference soundbites, and assumptions that felt true three years ago. By the time a statistic becomes common knowledge, the actual market has usually moved on. This creates a dangerous gap between what executives believe is happening and what's is really happening. But the right retail technology statistics can actually reveal how AI, eCommerce, mobile, and omnichannel innovations are shaping retail market growth and operations in 2026.

At Radixweb, we've built client strategies for over a decade by starting with verified data, not comfortable narratives. And with this collection of retail technology statistics, we aim to help you make the right tech choices. For that, every statistic in this guide comes with a primary source and a live URL. Where research firms disagree (which happens constantly in retail market sizing), we name both figures and explain why they differ.

Global Retail Market Size Statistics: Understanding the Landscape

The global retail market is vast, fragmented, and harder to measure than it looks. Different research firms include different categories. Some count merchandise only, while others fold in food service, digital goods, and services. This creates variance in the headlines.

But underneath the variance, the picture is consistent: retail is growing at a steady rate annually.

Here's what the data actually shows:

• According to Mordor Intelligence, the global retail market was valued at $28.12 trillion in 2025, projected to grow to $29.79 trillion by the end of 2026 and $41.53 trillion by 2031 at a 6.87% CAGR.
  • In terms of product type, food and beverages held the largest (49.44%) revenue share in 2025.
  • Supermarkets and hypermarkets led distribution channels with a 37.44% share.
  • North America held a 34.43% regional share, while Asia-Pacific is expected to post the fastest growth at an 11.73% CAGR through 2031. (Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026)

Regional Retail Market Statistics

• The US retail market reached approximately $7.5 trillion in 2025, making it the single largest retail market by country. The US is home to the top three global retail companies by revenue: Walmart, Amazon, and Costco. (Source: Statista)
• Total US retail sales for the second quarter of 2026 were estimated at $1,986.5 billion on a seasonally adjusted basis. (Source: US Census Bureau 2026)
• China's retail revenue surpassed 17.6 trillion yuan in 2024, continuing steady growth. India's retail market was valued at nearly $1 trillion in 2024, with substantial growth projected through 2030. (Source: Statista)
• Retail industry IT spending totals approximately $131 billion in 2025, with 28% allocated to software and 44% to IT services. (Source: HG Insights, 2025)

The takeaway isn't the retail technology market size. What matters more is understanding the composition and growth patterns. The real strategic insight is regional: while North America dominates in absolute revenue, Asia-Pacific is where the growth acceleration is happening. For technology providers and retailers alike, this means different investment priorities depending on which markets you're building.

eCommerce Market Statistics: The Rise of Online Commerce

eCommerce has transitioned from a growth channel to a structural component of retail. And now, the conversation has shifted. The question is no longer whether eCommerce matters, it's how to optimize within eCommerce and integrate it seamlessly with physical channels.

Understanding eCommerce's true scale and growth trajectory is essential for any retailer planning digital investment.

• Global eCommerce sales reached $6.86 trillion in 2025, accounting for approximately 20% of total global retail sales. An estimated 2.77 billion people made at least one online purchase in 2025. Growth is projected toward 2.86 billion buyers in 2026. (Source: Statista)
• Global eCommerce growth ran at 8.3% year-over-year by end of 2025, while in-store retail sales grew at approximately 3%, a differential that has persisted for several years and shows no sign of narrowing. (Source: Craftberry Global eCommerce Forecast, 2026)
• The global e-retail market was valued at $3.84 trillion in 2025, projected to grow to $4.08 trillion in 2026 and $5.52 trillion by 2031 at a 6.22% CAGR. Asia-Pacific captured 59.78% of global e-retail market share in 2025. (Source: Mordor Intelligence, 2026)
• eCommerce's share of total global retail is projected to grow from 20% in 2025 to 22.5% by 2028. (Source: Craftberry Global eCommerce Forecast, 2026)

US eCommerce Statistics

Note: The US Census Bureau's quarterly retail eCommerce report is the primary source for US-specific figures and it carries higher evidentiary weight than market research firm projections because it draws from direct surveys of US merchants.

• Seasonally adjusted US retail eCommerce sales reached an estimated $340.2 billion in the second quarter of 2026. This is a 3.8% increase compared to the first quarter of 2026.
• US retail eCommerce totaled $1.2337 trillion in full-year 2025, with Q4 2025 alone contributing $316.1 billion. Full-year 2025 eCommerce grew 5.4% from 2024, while total US retail grew only 2.7% in Q4 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, confirming that eCommerce continues to outpace brick-and-mortar at a meaningful rate.
• eCommerce's share of all US retail sales reached 16.4% in full-year 2025, climbing to 16.6% in Q4 2025 during the holiday season. Projections point to 18% in 2026.

Shopping Cart Abandonment Statistics

• Shopping cart abandonment, the single most-tracked eCommerce metric, stands at a 70.22% average, aggregated from 50 published studies. Mobile cart abandonment is consistently higher, reaching approximately 85.65% in single-study samples. The leading cause is unexpected extra costs at checkout, cited by 40% of abandoning shoppers. Account creation requirements are cited by 18% and lengthy checkout processes by 17%. (Source: Baymard Institute, 2026)
• Checkout design improvement can increase conversion rates by 35.26% on large eCommerce sites, without changing pricing or marketing spend. (Source: Baymard Institute, 2026)
• Free returns are cited as a major purchase consideration by 82% of consumers, with total returns expected to be $849.9 billion in 2025. (Source: National Retail Federation, 2025)
• US eCommerce return rate stands at 20% in 2025, up from 8.1% pre-pandemic. Apparel and accessories lead at 25%, followed by auto parts at 19.4% and footwear at 17%. (Source: US statistics compiled by Ship to the Moon, 2026)

The narrative around eCommerce often focuses on growth rate. And yes, eCommerce is outpacing traditional retail. But the more actionable insight sits in the friction points.

Cart abandonment at 70%, for example, isn't a market size problem, it's an execution problem. That gap between actual abandonment and recoverable revenue through better checkout design represents billions in potential. For retailers and eCommerce platforms, this is where optimization returns are highest. The market is no longer about capturing growth, but about converting the traffic you already have.

Mobile Commerce Statistics: The Shift to Mobile-First Retail

Mobile has become a growing commerce channel globally, which reflects broader consumer behavior: smartphones are the primary device for discovery, research, and purchasing.

According to Mordor Intelligence's 2026 MCommerce Market Report, here's what the data reveals:

• The mobile commerce market is valued at $2.82 trillion in 2026 and is projected to reach $4.16 trillion by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 8.09%.
• By transaction type, m-retailing accounted for 43.78% of revenue share in 2025, while m-billing is projected to grow at a 9.32% CAGR through 2031.
• By payment mode, mobile web payments represented 38.51% of turnover in 2025, while NFC contactless transactions are expected to grow at a 10.88% CAGR through 2031.
• By device type, smartphones captured 64.84% of activity in 2025, while wearables are forecast to expand at a 12.06% CAGR through 2031.
• By application, retail and e-commerce accounted for 49.33% of market value in 2025, while media and entertainment is projected to grow at an 11.98% CAGR through 2031.
• By geography, North America held 37.21% of global spending in 2025, while Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a 12.84% CAGR through 2031.
• Mobile and contactless payments are expected to grow at 12.4% per year from 2025 to 2034. (Source: National Retail Federation, 2025)

With that, it is clear that the mobile commerce growth is real, making seamless mobile experiences and frictionless payments essential for retailers looking to drive stronger customer engagement and conversions.

AI in Retail and eCommerce: From Assessment to Scaled Deployment

Artificial intelligence is one of those retail technology trends that has moved from an experiment to baseline operational consideration. Nearly every major retailer is evaluating AI capabilities, and many have begun deployment in specific functions. Yet there's a significant gap between awareness and execution at scale. Understanding where AI is actually delivering measurable business impact and where implementation remains immature is essential for planning technology investment.

• AI in retail technology market size: Fortune Business Insights values the global AI in retail market at $12.40 billion in 2025, projected to grow to $16.54 billion in 2026 and $105.88 billion by 2034 at a 26.10% CAGR. North America held a 36.90% market share in 2025. (Source: Fortune Business Insights, 2026)
• An alternative estimate from Precedence Research and market aggregators puts the broader AI in retail market at $14.23 billion in 2025, growing to $16.64 billion in 2026, and reaching $70.95 billion by 2035 at a 17.60% CAGR. (Source: Precedence Research, 2026)

The difference reflects different scope definitions as Fortune Business Insights focuses on core AI retail software while Precedence's broader estimates include adjacent AI infrastructure.

AI Adoption in Retail Statistics

• NVIDIA's 2025 retail AI survey found that 91% of retailers are either using or actively assessing AI capabilities. 90% plan to increase AI budgets in 2026. Also, 95% said AI decreased their annual costs, while 89% said AI has increased annual revenue. (Source: NVIDIA, 2026)
• However, Stord states that while 89% of retail and CPG companies are using or testing AI, only 33% have fully implemented AI across operations, and just 7% have reached fully scaled deployment. (Source: Stord, 2026)

This gap between assessment and implementation is the defining dynamic of the market.

• Generative AI retail traffic grew 4,700% year-over-year in 2025, according to Adobe Analytics. AI-referred shoppers converted 31% higher than average shoppers during the 2025 holiday season. (Source: Adobe, 2026)
• Salesforce reports that AI influenced $229 billion in global online holiday sales in 2025 through personalized recommendations, targeted offers, and conversational support. (Source: Salesforce, 2025)
• AI personalization delivers 5-15% annual revenue growth for retailers that implement it effectively, according to McKinsey. Retailers using AI saw 14.2% sales growth between 2023 and 2024, compared to 6.9% for non-AI retailers. (Source: McKinsey, 2026)
• Shoppers who engage with an AI chatbot convert at 12.3% versus 3.1% for those who do not, nearly a 4x lift. Companies see $3.50 back for every $1 invested in AI customer service, while AI chatbots reduce cart abandonment by 20-30%. (Source: DataRefs, 2026 citing industry research)
• Consumer AI shopping adoption. As of 2026, 68% of consumers have used at least one AI tool while shopping in the past three months. 38% of US consumers have used generative AI for online shopping. 61.5% have used AI tools for product discovery and recommendations. However, 55% remain uncomfortable with AI agents making purchases on their behalf, and only 39% of Americans trust AI agents for everyday purchases. (Source: McKinsey, 2026)
• 80% of retailers are using or actively piloting generative AI specifically, per NVIDIA's 2025 survey. 84% of eCommerce businesses rank AI as their highest strategic priority in 2026. (Source: NVIDIA, 2026)

There is a gap between AI usage and AI trust, as evident from insights collated by CapitalOneShopping:

The AI adoption curve in retail shows a predictable pattern: rapid assessment followed by selective deployment in high-ROI functions. The companies pulling ahead are not those with the most AI initiatives. They're those with AI systems running core operations at scale. The competitive gap between assessing AI and deployment at scale represents the next major retail technology divide. So, the question is no longer whether to invest in AI. It's whether your organization can move from pilot to production faster than competitors.

Smart Retail and Omnichannel Technology: Building the Infrastructure Layer

Smart retail encompasses the operational infrastructure powering modern commerce. It includes AI-driven analytics, intelligent inventory systems, digital storefronts, and unified customer data platforms. This infrastructure layer is invisible to consumers but foundational to retailer operations. As retailers scale across channels and geographies, the ability to sync inventory, coordinate fulfillment, and personalize customer experience becomes non-negotiable.

• The smart retail market was valued at $57.8 billion in 2025, projected to reach $308.2 billion by 2034 at a 19.82% CAGR. North America held a 34.7% market share in 2025. Smart retail encompasses AI and data analytics, smart shelves, mobile payments, digital displays, and automated inventory management. (Source: IMARC Group)
• Augmented reality in eCommerce: The global AR in eCommerce market was valued at $5.8 billion in 2024, projected to reach $38.5 billion by 2030 at a 35.8% CAGR. Practical applications include virtual furniture placement, cosmetics try-ons, and virtual fitting rooms. AR primarily reduces return rates and increases purchase confidence by helping customers assess how products will look, fit, or function before buying. (Source: BigCommerce)

Omnichannel Statistics

• Shoppers who interact with a brand on multiple channels spend more than single-channel shoppers. 70% of US shoppers mix channels in a single purchase journey. Omnichannel strategies like syncing inventory across channels, offering flexible fulfillment like buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS), and using customer data to personalize across devices, have moved from differentiation to baseline expectation. (Source: Litslink Retail Trends 2026)

Statistics About Other Noteworthy Retail Technology Trends

• Walmart's electronic shelf labels deployment across 2,300 stores by 2026 enables AI-driven dynamic pricing without manual intervention, representing one of the largest deployments of smart retail infrastructure in the industry. (Source: Walmart, 2024)
• Consumers pay on average 9.7% more for sustainable goods globally, according to PwC, though this varies by region and segment. ESG compliance and transparency have shifted from optional positioning to minimum requirements in many consumer segments. (Source: PwC, 2024)
• Deloitte's 2025 US Retail Industry Outlook reports that two-thirds of retail executives plan moderate-to-major investments in workforce hiring and retention due to high turnover rates among frontline workers. US retailers hired approximately 40% fewer seasonal workers in the 2025 holiday season compared to 2024, with contactless and autonomous store technologies filling part of the labor gap. (Source: Deloitte 2025 US Retail Industry Outlook)

Smart retail technology investment is accelerating because it directly impacts operational efficiency and customer lifetime value. And omnichannel retail has become table stakes. This reality has rewritten the investment equation. The infrastructure supporting this shift, from smart shelves to unified inventory systems to AR try-on technology, is growing at rates that signal capital confidence. The winners will be those who treat omnichannel integration as ongoing operational capability, not as a one-time project.

What's Next: Where Retail Technology Is Headed

The data tells a clear story: the retail technology market size is growing, and the industry is moving from boutique innovation to operational necessity. The competitive gap will widen between companies that reached scale and those just assessing retail technology and smart tech. The data above already shows what works. The market will separate those who act on the data from those who discuss it.For over a decade, Radixweb has helped retailers and eCommerce companies move from data to strategy to execution. We've architected AI systems that work beyond just proof-of-concept. We've rebuilt checkout experiences that helped recover abandoned revenue. We've built the omnichannel infrastructure that syncs inventory, fulfillment, and customer experience across channels. We've been able to do this because we understand not only the tech, but also the industry and what impacts business metrics. If you're at the assessment stage wondering what to do next, schedule a no-cost strategy consultation with our tech strategists and get a roadmap that moves the needle.