Here's a thread describing some recent uses:
 - http://bt.irlbtc.com/view/75621.0

The 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:

 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Trade#Dedicated.2FVirtual_Server_Hosting  (Web Hosting)
 - http://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Trade#Connectivity (Anonymous VPN)
 - 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:
 - http://www.bitcoindeals.com/shop/product/442983?p=0

But 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:
 - https://bt.irlbtc.com/view/75883.0
and for sending micropayments and tips:
 - http://BTCTip
and for buying new music:
 - http://www.CoinDL.com
and for trading in-game currencies person-to-person:
 - http://www.Ogrr.com
and for buying auctions when bids are succesful:
 - http://www.bitmit.net
and for ordering takeout:
 - https://www.eatgrubgo.com/bitcoin.htm
or delivery:
 - http://coincard.ndrix.com (Papa Johns)
or having dessert arrive in the mailbox:
 - http://www.mandrik.com
and for cigarettes:
 - http://www.cigs.eu
or the smokeless kind:
 - http://www.mandrik.com
and for sending a donation to a useful service:
 - http://archive.org/about/faqs.php#311
and for getting the ability to relax playing WOW:
 - http://bitcoincodes.com/index.php?unit=store&op=moreinfo&cat=7&info=10
and for paying rent:
 - http://bt.irlbtc.com/view/73712.0
and then, of course, let's not forget what was at one time Bitcoin's most famous merchant:
 - 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.

There is a "bitcoin days destroyed" metric.  It may be a more reliable method than trading volume, to gauge real transaction volume.  I say may be, because there was some discussion on its viability a few months back.

See blockchain.info for graphs.