COVID-19 lockdowns led to huge growth in e-commerce growth

Fear of the pandemic and lockdowns led to more shoppers taking to online shopping as opposed to brick and mortar stores.

Americans spent $791 billion online, up by 32% as compared to 2019. Among the goods that were sold in the heaviest numbers were groceries, new hobbies and activities and sports goods, all items geared towards staving off boredom during lockdown. Musical instruments and books also saw substantial growth in the second quarter of 2020 as the country was firmly in the grip of lockdowns and restrictions on socializing.

Home improvements and decor items also witnessed spikes in sale numbers, with furniture, gardening equipment and building supplies taking the lead in the category.

The shift to online retailing has benefitted nearly all major stores including Amazon, Walmart, Target and Home Depot. Pure e-commerce sites such as Etsy also recorded huge increase in sales.