Total retail and food services sales in the U.S. 1992-2018

In 2018, total retail and food service sales reached over 6 trillion U.S. dollars for the first time in the United States. This is roughly triple the sales numbers that were generated in 1992, not adjusting for inflation.

Leading retailers and store types

In 2019, the leading food and grocery retailer in the United States was by far Walmart, which generated sales numbers of over 270 billion U.S. dollars that year. The Kroger Co., Costco Wholesale Club, and Ahold Delhaize were also among the top U.S. retailers. With a grocery market share of almost 60 percent, the supermarket was the top store type in 2018. The warehouse clubs and superstores category stood in second place, accounting for almost a quarter of the U.S. market.

Consumer habits

The American consumer made an average of one and a half trips to the grocery store per week in 2019. The average amount of trips has noticeably decreased, compared to a decade earlier. In recent times, online grocery shopping has also become an option for consumers. The concept is projected to grow considerably in the coming years, reaching roughly 60 billion U.S. dollars’ worth of sales numbers in the United States by 2023.