E-commerce spending hits $1 trillion for first time

(Credit: eMarketer)

For the first time ever, e-commerce sales exceeded $1 trillion, according to new data from research firm eMarketer.

The first $1 trillion mark likely won't be the last, according to eMarketer. The company said that it expects e-commerce sales to grow again this year by 18.3 percent to end 2013 at $1.3 trillion in worldwide sales.

In addition, the company expects North America to lose its position as the leading e-commerce market to Asia-Pacific. Last year, Asia-Pacific's share of total e-commerce spending was 30.5 percent, just behind North America's 33.5 percent share. This year, Asia-Pacific will nab 33.4 percent of spending, followed by 31.5 percent for North America.

Despite that, the U.S. is still the biggest e-commerce market in the world. In 2012, Americans spent $343.4 billion on digitally purchased goods. This year, that number will jump to $384.8 billion. China will land in second place with $181.6 billion in spending.

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by Don Reisinger via CNET