Here's a thread describing some recent uses:
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https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/what-do-you-want-your-bitcoins-to-buy-75621The problem you are describing though is by design. A pseudonymous digital currency does not give up much information -- which makes tracking real-world adoption difficulty, just as it is for tracking businesses that primarily use cash.
There are some businesses seeing fantastic success. They are easy to spot because what happens is one starts to do well and grow and the next thing you know there are a half dozen competitors -- yet as they duke it out the better rise to the top and those not-as-nimble might just stagnate or fade away.
Here are some examples of the categories doing very well right now:
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http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Trade#Dedicated.2FVirtual_Server_Hosting (Web Hosting)
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http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Trade#Connectivity (Anonymous VPN)
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http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Trade#Precious_.26_Base_Metals.2FCoins (Gold & Silver Bullion)
In hindsight these make sense. Anonymous VPN, paid for anonymously. Check. Gold and silver, ... hard money being paid for using ... hard currency. Check.
Then there is one single merchant that offers more than a quarter-million different items for sale even, including commercial items such as a case of packing tape:
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http://www.bitcoindeals.com/shop/product/442983?p=0But if you add up all the purchases each day through all these merchants, ... you are only counting a tiny fraction of the 8,000 or so transactions we are seeing each day. That might be the answer to your question ..., bitcoin just hasn't made much progress when used as a merchant payment system that competes against a Visa/Mastercard, for instance.
Instead the vast majority of the thousands of transactions each day occur to move funds back and forth to the exchanges for speculation, transactions to move funds to the miners when they receive payments for what their rigs earn as well transactions when they move out of bitcoins and into cash.
Funds are moved person-to-person (similar to how PayPal person-to-person payments is performed), as well.
To a lesser degree, bitcoin is used for online gambling:
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https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/mems-list-of-gambling-sites-75883and for sending micropayments and tips:
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http://BTCTipand for buying new music:
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http://www.CoinDL.comand for trading in-game currencies person-to-person:
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http://www.Ogrr.comand for buying auctions when bids are succesful:
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http://www.bitmit.netand for ordering takeout:
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https://www.eatgrubgo.com/bitcoin.htmor delivery:
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http://coincard.ndrix.com (Papa Johns)
or having dessert arrive in the mailbox:
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http://www.mandrik.comand for cigarettes:
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http://www.cigs.euor the smokeless kind:
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http://www.mandrik.comand for sending a donation to a useful service:
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http://archive.org/about/faqs.php#311and for getting the ability to relax playing WOW:
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http://bitcoincodes.com/index.php?unit=store&op=moreinfo&cat=7&info=10and for paying rent:
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https://bitcointalksearch.org/topic/las-vegas-property-management-co-accepts-bitcoins-for-rent-payments-73712and then, of course, let's not forget what was at one time Bitcoin's most famous merchant:
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http://www.grasshillalpacas.com/alpacaproductsforbitcoinoffer.html (seller of Alpaca socks)
But mostly, ... Bitcoin today is used for transferring funds to and from the exchanges. Speculators buying in and miners cashing out.
That's essentially the extent of it.
For now.