Where will the e-commerce opportunities be in the United States in 2023? Platform and market segment growth forecasts

It is learned that according to the latest data released by Pitney Bowes, the volume of e-commerce packages in the United States reached a peak growth before the epidemic and began to decline in 2022. The US e-commerce market is being impacted by the macro economy, but some platforms, categories, and specific audience markets are still expected to grow.

According to Pitney Bowes, U.S. e-commerce package volume fell 2% to 21.2 billion in 2022. But carrier revenue reached an all-time high of $198 billion, up 6.5% from $186 billion in 2021.

United Parcel Service reportedly generated the highest carrier revenue at $73 billion; FedEx ($65 billion) generated the second-highest revenue; the U.S. Postal Service ($31 billion) was close behind; Amazon Logistics generated $24 billion, and total revenue from "other" reached $4 billion.

The report points out that despite the increasing risk of recession and continued sluggish consumer demand, the record revenue of parcel carriers shows that the US e-commerce market has the ability to meet these challenges. Pitney Bowes predicts that by 2028, the number of parcels in the United States will reach 28 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 5% from 2023 to 2028.

2023 US Category and Market Opportunity Forecast

According to eMarketer's forecast, after a slight decline in 2022, US retail e-commerce sales will accelerate year by year until 2027, eventually returning to pre-pandemic growth levels. By 2027, US e-commerce sales will reach $1.736 trillion, accounting for more than 20% of total retail sales.

In terms of categories, eMarketer predicts that digital grocery (including food and beverage and health and personal care categories) will be the biggest driver of growth in the next few years. In addition, auto parts, toys and hobbies, and office equipment and supplies will also see above-average sales growth.

In terms of consumer groups, Hispanics in the United States are one of the largest and fastest growing online shopping consumer groups, and these Hispanic consumers will become one of the important drivers of e-commerce growth in the United States. A Nielsen study revealed the shopping preferences of Hispanic consumers and provided guidance for brands.

The study said that the shopping preferences of American Hispanic consumers are influenced by family, cultural and technological factors, and most of them make purchasing decisions based on the advice of a leader, who is usually an influential and respected figure among Hispanic consumers.

In addition, American Hispanic consumers value personalized shopping experiences and whether the brand culture is consistent with their values. 92% of American Hispanic consumers said that brand trust is very important to their purchasing decisions.

The 15 fastest growing e-commerce companies in the United States

Amazon, Walmart, Apple and eBay will remain the largest e-commerce companies in the United States in terms of sales. But among the top 15 fastest-growing e-commerce companies in the United States predicted by eMarketer, some new faces are emerging, including Target, The Home Depot, Costco Wholesale, Carvana, Best Buy, Lowe's and Wayfair.

Of note is Carvana, a used car e-commerce platform, whose online sales will grow 22.7% in 2024, faster than any other retail e-commerce company in the top 15 in the United States.

Editor✎ Ashley/

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