Source: US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook SurveyCensus Sector file, NAICS sectors. Standard errors 0.73 to 2.02 points.digitaltreed.com/statistics
In plain words
What this number really says
18.5% of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate (Oct 2026).
18.5%
the latest figure (Oct 2026)
Official data
type of source
Why you can trust it. US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey: official data, government statistics office or regulator. About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
Compare yourself with the published data for firms your size.
24.3%
of US firms with 1 to 4 employees used AI in a business function in the last two weeks, close to the 24.6% national rate (small firms, USA). All firms: 24.6%.
You are here: with the firms not doing this yet
Most firms your size have not started either, so an early start is still an edge.
US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey
Source type
Official data: Government statistics office or regulator
What it measures
18.5% of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate
Data period
Oct 2026 (ends 18 Oct 2026)
Published by the source
22 Oct 2026
Who is counted
About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
Margin of error
SE 0.73 points
In the source's words
Sector.xlsx, Response Estimates: SI (formerly AI) use in the last two weeks, Yes, wave 202621, NAICS 44 (Retail Trade): 18.5%; standard error 0.73%
Checked at source
23 Oct 2026: Read in Sector.xlsx on census.gov, 2026-10-23. May story said "around 14%" (14.3% in AI_sector.json).
Reuse
Public domain (US government work). Free to reuse; cite "US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey". Census labels BTOS an experimental data product.
26 May 2026New dataAbout 14% Census story, wave ending 3 May 2026.
Cite this number
APA
US Census Bureau. (2026). 18.5% of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate. Via digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/us-ai-use-retail
MLA
"18.5% of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate." US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey, Oct 2026. digitaltreed, https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/us-ai-use-retail.
HTML link
<a href="https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/us-ai-use-retail">18.5% of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate</a> (US Census Bureau, Oct 2026)
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<p>Source: <a href="https://digitaltreed.com/statistics/ai/us-ai-use-retail">18.5% of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate, digitaltreed</a></p>
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FAQ
Questions about this number
What is the latest figure for sectors (USA)?
18.5% of US retail firms used AI in the last two weeks, below the 24.6% national rate, for Oct 2026, according to US Census Bureau, Business Trends and Outlook Survey. We checked it at the source on 23 Oct 2026.
Related
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Official dataAll sizesUSA
46.4%
of US firms in the information sector used AI in the last two weeks, the highest of any sector
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US professional, scientific and technical services firms (lawyers, accountants, agencies, engineers) used AI in the last two weeks
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
of US finance and insurance firms used AI in the last two weeks
Sample: About 1.2 million US employer businesses in six panels of about 200,000; each panel reports every 12 weeks. About 24,000 responses in the 5-18 Oct 2026 wave (Census response file URR.xlsx, 12% response rate).
