The online-sales estimate came with a moving baseline
Census’s August report needs its later revision warning and survey definitions to be useful.
- Event / announcement date
- 2026-08-18
Census’s August 18 report put second-quarter e-commerce sales at $340.2 billion, seasonally adjusted but not price-adjusted. Its page now says the estimates became outdated September 28; revisions were scheduled for November. This is a historical dollar estimate, not purchasing volume or today’s latest total. [1]
Census defines e-commerce by electronic ordering or negotiation, including online systems and electronic data interchange. Payment need not occur online. The measure therefore extends beyond website checkout payments. [2]
Missing company responses are estimated. Census says the April 2025 revision removed firms without paid employees from current and historical estimates—a coverage change, not evidence those sellers disappeared. [3]
Retailers are grouped by primary business, including companies with both store and online activity. An online sale therefore does not identify an online-only company. [3]
The source
- U.S. Census Bureau: Quarterly Retail E-Commerce Sales, Second Quarter 2026 ↗
Source date 2026-08-18 · reviewed October 29, 2026 - U.S. Census Bureau: Monthly Retail Trade: Definitions ↗
Undated reference · reviewed October 29, 2026 · No publication date is given on this reference. - U.S. Census Bureau: Quarterly E-Commerce: Explanatory Material ↗
Undated reference · reviewed October 29, 2026 · No publication date is given on this reference.
About this item: Retrospective report. No first-hand reporting or independent testing is claimed. Corrections policy.
