THE RECEIPTS, NOT THE VIBES
Key numbers on apparel spending, online shopping, returns, and textile waste. Every figure includes a dated, named source so it is easy to check and cite.
THE SHORT VERSION
Apparel shopping now sits at the intersection of everyday spending, online convenience, return expectations, and a very real waste problem. The figures below bring together the latest available U.S. data from public agencies and established retail research.
Data availability varies by subject. Retail sales figures are released quarterly, while detailed waste data takes longer to compile. Each stat names the period it covers, rather than pretending every number was measured yesterday.
CITABLE FIGURES
$2,041
Apparel and services represented 2.5% of average annual consumer spending in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditures, 2024 OPEN SOURCE2024 data, released December 19, 202516.9%
U.S. retail e-commerce sales reached $326.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales OPEN SOURCEFirst quarter 2026, released May 18, 2026$849.9B
Returns accounted for 15.8% of total retail sales in 2025.
National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, 2025 Consumer Returns Report OPEN SOURCE202519.3%
The 2025 rate was higher than the overall retail return rate, showing why fit and product clarity matter online.
National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, 2025 Consumer Returns Report OPEN SOURCE202582%
The finding comes from the same national retailer and shopper returns research.
National Retail Federation and Happy Returns, 2025 Consumer Returns Report OPEN SOURCE202552,909
The 2022 Economic Census counted 52,909 firms in this retail sector, down from 56,731 in 2017.
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Economic Census OPEN SOURCE2022 data, released January 202517.0M tons
The EPA reported 17.0 million tons of textile generation in 2018, the latest detailed national material estimate available in its facts and figures series.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management OPEN SOURCE2018 data, published December 202014.7%
The same EPA dataset found that 2.5 million tons of textiles were recycled in 2018.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management OPEN SOURCE2018 data, published December 2020HOW TO READ THIS PAGE
This page collects published U.S. statistics relevant to apparel buyers, retailers, writers, and researchers. It uses the newest figure available from each source as of the update date, without estimating missing values or mixing different reporting periods.
Government datasets are preferred for spending, sales, business counts, and waste. The returns figures come from the National Retail Federation and Happy Returns' annual industry report. Source dates are shown on every stat so readers can judge each number in context.
MAG Apparel. “U.S. Apparel, Online Retail, and Textile Waste Statistics.” Updated August 18, 2026. https://magapparelstore.shop/apparel-shopping-statistics