Dive Brief:

• U.S. retail sales were more than $4.53 trillion in 2013, according to a study by marking research firm eMarketer.

• Much of that growth was due to rising sales in e-commerce, which grew $40 billion, or nearly 17%, the research found.

• The study is eMarketer’s first benchmark of total retail and store sales, using an analysis of results from 47 research firms and government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Commerce. The research teased out retail e-commerce sales and physical store sales.

Dive Insight:

eMarketer’s study shows how much e-commerce is growing in the retail sector, underscoring the importance of retailer’s attention to all channels. The best news here is the growing confidence of the American consumer in a view much wider than the snapshots of sales during the shortened holidays and subsequent months of poor weather that retailers have endured. The economy is not growing by leaps and bounds, but it does appear to be steadily improving, and consumers’ confidence with it.