Global retail sales projected to top $22trn in 2014, China to dominate online by 2018

Global retail sales – in-store and e-commerce – will approach $22.5trn this year and grow to $28.3trn in 2018, according to research from digital marketing insights company eMarketer.

E-commerce will account for 5.9% of the global retail market in 2014 to $1.316trn and is expected to grow to almost 8.8%, or $2.5trn, by 2018.

The Chinese and US economies are leading the internet retail sales growth, accounting for more than 55% of the world’s online business over the past year.

By 2018, China which will account for $1trn, or 40% of the worldwide total, with the US second at $500bn. The UK takes third place with $125bn.

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