Forrester’s latest US Retail E-Commerce Forecast projects total US retail sales will reach $6.2 trillion by 2030, up from $5.2 trillion in 2025. Ecommerce sales are expected to grow to $1.8 trillion, accounting for 29% of total retail sales, while in-store sales will remain dominant at $4.4 trillion, or 71% of total sales.
Despite tariff uncertainty in early 2025, retail sales remained resilient. Stable inflation and interest rates, low unemployment, and wage growth above inflation supported consumer spending.
However, growth is uneven. Higher-income households are driving gains, supported by stock market growth and rising home equity, while lower-income consumers remain focused on essentials.
Ecommerce growth is expected to be fueled by more Gen Z consumers entering the workforce, continued logistics improvements, and new technologies such as agentic commerce. Retailers are also investing in curated marketplaces and retail media to expand digital revenue opportunities.
Physical stores will continue to play a critical role. Retailers are prioritizing in-store technology, associate enablement, self-service tools, stronger omnichannel inventory visibility, and loss prevention initiatives.
As ecommerce and store operations grow more complex, retailers need unified systems to maintain inventory accuracy, streamline fulfillment, and meet rising customer expectations.
Ready to simplify multichannel retail operations and improve inventory visibility? Book a demo to see how Descartes’ ecommerce solutions can help you stay ahead of shifting consumer demands.