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Size of the US Department Stores industry

NAICS 4522, Department Stores. Every figure on this page was published by a federal statistical agency and carries its source and period. Palanor does not estimate: a period the agency didn’t publish shows as missing, and a figure it withheld shows as withheld. This is a NAICS 2017 code that the 2022 edition replaced; the Census surveys that still publish on the 2017 basis keep it alive.

Key figures

Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)
$66.6 billion
2017 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars
Sales
$3.0 billion
2026-07 · Monthly Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Sales
$46.6 billion
2022 · Annual Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Employment
195,673
2023 · County Business Patterns
Paid employees in the pay period including March 12
Establishments
2,434
2023 · County Business Patterns
Firms
14
2017 · Economic Census

Over time

How it has changed

Sales, seasonally adjusted · Monthly Retail Trade SurveyLatest $3.3 billion · 2026-07
2011-08: $15.1 billion2011-09: $15.3 billion2011-10: $15.2 billion2011-11: $15.2 billion2011-12: $15.2 billion2012-01: $15.3 billion2012-02: $15.5 billion2012-03: $15.5 billion2012-04: $15.2 billion2012-05: $15.0 billion2012-06: $15.0 billion2012-07: $14.9 billion2012-08: $14.8 billion2012-09: $14.6 billion2012-10: $14.3 billion2012-11: $14.1 billion2012-12: $13.9 billion2013-01: $14.0 billion2013-02: $13.5 billion2013-03: $13.1 billion2013-04: $12.9 billion2013-05: $12.7 billion2013-06: $12.5 billion2013-07: $12.1 billion2013-08: $12.0 billion2013-09: $11.9 billion2013-10: $11.8 billion2013-11: $11.5 billion2013-12: $11.4 billion2014-01: $11.0 billion2014-02: $11.3 billion2014-03: $11.1 billion2014-04: $11.4 billion2014-05: $11.0 billion2014-06: $10.7 billion2014-07: $10.7 billion2014-08: $10.5 billion2014-09: $10.2 billion2014-10: $10.1 billion2014-11: $10.0 billion2014-12: $9.9 billion2015-01: $9.8 billion2015-02: $9.6 billion2015-03: $9.6 billion2015-04: $9.2 billion2015-05: $9.2 billion2015-06: $8.9 billion2015-07: $8.8 billion2015-08: $8.7 billion2015-09: $8.6 billion2015-10: $8.4 billion2015-11: $8.3 billion2015-12: $8.1 billion2016-01: $8.0 billion2016-02: $7.9 billion2016-03: $7.7 billion2016-04: $7.5 billion2016-05: $7.3 billion2016-06: $7.4 billion2016-07: $7.1 billion2016-08: $7.0 billion2016-09: $6.8 billion2016-10: $6.6 billion2016-11: $6.3 billion2016-12: $6.2 billion2017-01: $6.4 billion2017-02: $6.2 billion2017-03: $6.0 billion2017-04: $5.9 billion2017-05: $5.7 billion2017-06: $5.7 billion2017-07: $5.6 billion2017-08: $5.4 billion2017-09: $5.4 billion2017-10: $5.2 billion2017-11: $5.1 billion2017-12: $4.9 billion2018-01: $5.4 billion2018-02: $5.3 billion2018-03: $5.2 billion2018-04: $5.2 billion2018-05: $5.6 billion2018-06: $5.0 billion2018-07: $5.0 billion2018-08: $5.0 billion2018-09: $4.9 billion2018-10: $4.9 billion2018-11: $5.4 billion2018-12: $5.0 billion2019-01: $4.2 billion2019-02: $4.7 billion2019-03: $4.7 billion2019-04: $4.7 billion2019-05: $4.7 billion2019-06: $4.5 billion2019-07: $4.8 billion2019-08: $4.6 billion2019-09: $4.4 billion2019-10: $4.3 billion2019-11: $4.5 billion2019-12: $4.6 billion2020-01: $3.7 billion2020-02: $4.0 billion2020-03: $1.9 billion2020-04: $221.0 million2020-05: $1.4 billion2020-06: $2.5 billion2020-07: $2.5 billion2020-08: $2.6 billion2020-09: $3.0 billion2020-10: $2.8 billion2020-11: $2.9 billion2020-12: $2.9 billion2021-01: $2.7 billion2021-02: $2.9 billion2021-03: $3.6 billion2021-04: $3.5 billion2021-05: $3.7 billion2021-06: $3.9 billion2021-07: $3.8 billion2021-08: $3.8 billion2021-09: $3.8 billion2021-10: $3.9 billion2021-11: $4.0 billion2021-12: $3.8 billion2022-01: $3.3 billion2022-02: $3.7 billion2022-03: $3.7 billion2022-04: $3.7 billion2022-05: $3.7 billion2022-06: $3.7 billion2022-07: $3.7 billion2022-08: $3.7 billion2022-09: $3.7 billion2022-10: $3.6 billion2022-11: $3.6 billion2022-12: $3.6 billion2023-01: $3.6 billion2023-02: $3.7 billion2023-03: $3.5 billion2023-04: $3.4 billion2023-05: $3.4 billion2023-06: $3.4 billion2023-07: $3.4 billion2023-08: $3.5 billion2023-09: $3.4 billion2023-10: $3.4 billion2023-11: $3.4 billion2023-12: $3.5 billion2024-01: $3.3 billion2024-02: $3.4 billion2024-03: $3.3 billion2024-04: $3.4 billion2024-05: $3.3 billion2024-06: $3.3 billion2024-07: $3.3 billion2024-08: $3.2 billion2024-09: $3.3 billion2024-10: $3.2 billion2024-11: $3.3 billion2024-12: $3.2 billion2025-01: $3.3 billion2025-02: $3.3 billion2025-03: $3.3 billion2025-04: $3.2 billion2025-05: $3.2 billion2025-06: $3.2 billion2025-07: $3.2 billion2025-08: $3.2 billion2025-09: $3.2 billion2025-10: $3.4 billion2025-11: $3.4 billion2025-12: $3.2 billion2026-01: $3.0 billion2026-02: $3.1 billion2026-03: $3.3 billion2026-04: $3.3 billion2026-05: $3.3 billion2026-06: $3.3 billion2026-07: $3.3 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-07$3.3 billion
2026-06$3.3 billion
2026-05$3.3 billion
2026-04$3.3 billion
2026-03$3.3 billion
2026-02$3.1 billion
2026-01$3.0 billion
2025-12$3.2 billion
2025-11$3.4 billion
2025-10$3.4 billion
2025-09$3.2 billion
2025-08$3.2 billion
2025-07$3.2 billion
2025-06$3.2 billion
2025-05$3.2 billion
2025-04$3.2 billion
2025-03$3.3 billion
2025-02$3.3 billion
2025-01$3.3 billion
2024-12$3.2 billion
2024-11$3.3 billion
2024-10$3.2 billion
2024-09$3.3 billion
2024-08$3.2 billion
2024-07$3.3 billion
2024-06$3.3 billion
2024-05$3.3 billion
2024-04$3.4 billion
2024-03$3.3 billion
2024-02$3.4 billion
2024-01$3.3 billion
2023-12$3.5 billion
2023-11$3.4 billion
2023-10$3.4 billion
2023-09$3.4 billion
2023-08$3.5 billion
2023-07$3.4 billion
2023-06$3.4 billion
2023-05$3.4 billion
2023-04$3.4 billion
2023-03$3.5 billion
2023-02$3.7 billion
2023-01$3.6 billion
2022-12$3.6 billion
2022-11$3.6 billion
2022-10$3.6 billion
2022-09$3.7 billion
2022-08$3.7 billion
2022-07$3.7 billion
2022-06$3.7 billion
2022-05$3.7 billion
2022-04$3.7 billion
2022-03$3.7 billion
2022-02$3.7 billion
2022-01$3.3 billion
2021-12$3.8 billion
2021-11$4.0 billion
2021-10$3.9 billion
2021-09$3.8 billion
2021-08$3.8 billion
2021-07$3.8 billion
2021-06$3.9 billion
2021-05$3.7 billion
2021-04$3.5 billion
2021-03$3.6 billion
2021-02$2.9 billion
2021-01$2.7 billion
2020-12$2.9 billion
2020-11$2.9 billion
2020-10$2.8 billion
2020-09$3.0 billion
2020-08$2.6 billion
2020-07$2.5 billion
2020-06$2.5 billion
2020-05$1.4 billion
2020-04$221.0 million
2020-03$1.9 billion
2020-02$4.0 billion
2020-01$3.7 billion
2019-12$4.6 billion
2019-11$4.5 billion
2019-10$4.3 billion
2019-09$4.4 billion
2019-08$4.6 billion
2019-07$4.8 billion
2019-06$4.5 billion
2019-05$4.7 billion
2019-04$4.7 billion
2019-03$4.7 billion
2019-02$4.7 billion
2019-01$4.2 billion
2018-12$5.0 billion
2018-11$5.4 billion
2018-10$4.9 billion
2018-09$4.9 billion
2018-08$5.0 billion
2018-07$5.0 billion
2018-06$5.0 billion
2018-05$5.6 billion
2018-04$5.2 billion
2018-03$5.2 billion
2018-02$5.3 billion
2018-01$5.4 billion
2017-12$4.9 billion
2017-11$5.1 billion
2017-10$5.2 billion
2017-09$5.4 billion
2017-08$5.4 billion
2017-07$5.6 billion
2017-06$5.7 billion
2017-05$5.7 billion
2017-04$5.9 billion
2017-03$6.0 billion
2017-02$6.2 billion
2017-01$6.4 billion
2016-12$6.2 billion
2016-11$6.3 billion
2016-10$6.6 billion
2016-09$6.8 billion
2016-08$7.0 billion
2016-07$7.1 billion
2016-06$7.4 billion
2016-05$7.3 billion
2016-04$7.5 billion
2016-03$7.7 billion
2016-02$7.9 billion
2016-01$8.0 billion
2015-12$8.1 billion
2015-11$8.3 billion
2015-10$8.4 billion
2015-09$8.6 billion
2015-08$8.7 billion
2015-07$8.8 billion
2015-06$8.9 billion
2015-05$9.2 billion
2015-04$9.2 billion
2015-03$9.6 billion
2015-02$9.6 billion
2015-01$9.8 billion
2014-12$9.9 billion
2014-11$10.0 billion
2014-10$10.1 billion
2014-09$10.2 billion
2014-08$10.5 billion
2014-07$10.7 billion
2014-06$10.7 billion
2014-05$11.0 billion
2014-04$11.4 billion
2014-03$11.1 billion
2014-02$11.3 billion
2014-01$11.0 billion
2013-12$11.4 billion
2013-11$11.5 billion
2013-10$11.8 billion
2013-09$11.9 billion
2013-08$12.0 billion
2013-07$12.1 billion
2013-06$12.5 billion
2013-05$12.7 billion
2013-04$12.9 billion
2013-03$13.1 billion
2013-02$13.5 billion
2013-01$14.0 billion
2012-12$13.9 billion
2012-11$14.1 billion
2012-10$14.3 billion
2012-09$14.6 billion
2012-08$14.8 billion
2012-07$14.9 billion
2012-06$15.0 billion
2012-05$15.0 billion
2012-04$15.2 billion
2012-03$15.5 billion
2012-02$15.5 billion
2012-01$15.3 billion
2011-12$15.2 billion
2011-11$15.2 billion
2011-10$15.2 billion
2011-09$15.3 billion
2011-08$15.1 billion

Last 15 years shown; published since 1992-01, all of it in the API. · Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Retail Trade Survey · Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars · Agency label: Department Stores

Sales · Annual Retail Trade SurveyLatest $46.6 billion · 2022
1992: $177 billion1993: $188 billion1994: $199 billion1995: $206 billion1996: $212 billion1997: $220 billion1998: $223 billion1999: $230 billion2000: $232 billion2001: $228 billion2002: $221 billion2003: $214 billion2004: $216 billion2005: $215 billion2006: $213 billion2007: $209 billion2008: $198 billion2009: $187 billion2010: $185 billion2011: $183 billion2012: $177 billion2013: $148 billion2014: $127 billion2015: $106 billion2016: $84.9 billion2017: $66.6 billion2018: $62.5 billion2019: $56.0 billion2020: $32.0 billion2021: $46.3 billion2022: $46.6 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2022$46.6 billion
2021$46.3 billion
2020$32.0 billion
2019$56.0 billion
2018$62.5 billion
2017$66.6 billion
2016$84.9 billion
2015$106 billion
2014$127 billion
2013$148 billion
2012$177 billion
2011$183 billion
2010$185 billion
2009$187 billion
2008$198 billion
2007$209 billion
2006$213 billion
2005$215 billion
2004$216 billion
2003$214 billion
2002$221 billion
2001$228 billion
2000$232 billion
1999$230 billion
1998$223 billion
1997$220 billion
1996$212 billion
1995$206 billion
1994$199 billion
1993$188 billion
1992$177 billion

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Retail Trade Survey · Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars · Agency label: Department stores

Employment · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 1,088,751 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 1,041,7002019-Q2: 1,019,5682019-Q3: 1,029,4272019-Q4: 1,240,8122020-Q1: 976,9442020-Q2: 784,3722020-Q3: 847,7312020-Q4: 1,023,7102021-Q1: 889,5262021-Q2: 905,1242021-Q3: 923,8312021-Q4: 1,088,751
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q41,088,751
2021-Q3923,831
2021-Q2905,124
2021-Q1889,526
2020-Q41,023,710
2020-Q3847,731
2020-Q2784,372
2020-Q1976,944
2019-Q41,240,812
2019-Q31,029,427
2019-Q21,019,568
2019-Q11,041,700

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter

Employment · County Business PatternsLatest 195,673 · 2023
2017: 476,8262018: 456,0312019: 425,8882020: 450,0122021: 329,9012022: 247,9072023: 195,673
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023195,673
2022247,907
2021329,901
2020450,012
2019425,888
2018456,031
2017476,826

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns · Paid employees in the pay period including March 12

Establishments · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 11,343 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 12,4252019-Q2: 12,5222019-Q3: 11,8292019-Q4: 11,7732020-Q1: 11,7092020-Q2: 11,6892020-Q3: 11,6232020-Q4: 11,2472021-Q1: 11,5382021-Q2: 11,3002021-Q3: 11,3402021-Q4: 11,343
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q411,343
2021-Q311,340
2021-Q211,300
2021-Q111,538
2020-Q411,247
2020-Q311,623
2020-Q211,689
2020-Q111,709
2019-Q411,773
2019-Q311,829
2019-Q212,522
2019-Q112,425

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership

Establishments · County Business PatternsLatest 2,434 · 2023
2017: 4,3512018: 4,1332019: 3,8562020: 3,7172021: 3,6482022: 2,9812023: 2,434
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
20232,434
20222,981
20213,648
20203,717
20193,856
20184,133
20174,351

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns

Total wages in the quarter · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest $7.3 billion · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: $6.1 billion2019-Q2: $6.2 billion2019-Q3: $5.9 billion2019-Q4: $6.7 billion2020-Q1: $6.0 billion2020-Q2: $4.4 billion2020-Q3: $5.2 billion2020-Q4: $6.4 billion2021-Q1: $5.6 billion2021-Q2: $6.2 billion2021-Q3: $6.2 billion2021-Q4: $7.3 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q4$7.3 billion
2021-Q3$6.2 billion
2021-Q2$6.2 billion
2021-Q1$5.6 billion
2020-Q4$6.4 billion
2020-Q3$5.2 billion
2020-Q2$4.4 billion
2020-Q1$6.0 billion
2019-Q4$6.7 billion
2019-Q3$5.9 billion
2019-Q2$6.2 billion
2019-Q1$6.1 billion

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership

Annual payroll · County Business PatternsLatest $5.8 billion · 2023
2017: $9.7 billion2018: $9.2 billion2019: $9.0 billion2020: $6.7 billion2021: $7.1 billion2022: $6.5 billion2023: $5.8 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023$5.8 billion
2022$6.5 billion
2021$7.1 billion
2020$6.7 billion
2019$9.0 billion
2018$9.2 billion
2017$9.7 billion

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns

The ledger

Every published measure

MeasureSourceLatestPeriodHistory
EmploymentPrivate-sector jobs in the third month of each quarterQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages1,088,7512021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
EstablishmentsPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages11,3432021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages$7.3 billion2021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsAnnual Retail Trade Survey$46.6 billion20221992–2022 · 31 published
Annual payrollCounty Business Patterns$5.8 billion20232017–2023 · 7 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12County Business Patterns195,67320232017–2023 · 7 published
EstablishmentsCounty Business Patterns2,43420232017–2023 · 7 published
Annual payrollEconomic Census$9.8 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12Economic Census481,60120172017–2017 · 1 published
EstablishmentsEconomic Census4,33420172017–2017 · 1 published
FirmsEconomic Census1420172017–2017 · 1 published
Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollarsEconomic Census$66.6 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$3.0 billion2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published
Sales, seasonally adjustedEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$3.3 billion2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published

Breakdown

Industries within Department Stores

NAICSIndustrySizeEmployment
45221Department Stores$66.6 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census195,6732023 · CBP

Companies

Public companies in this industry

Companies Palanor tracks whose GICS classification maps to NAICS 4522. The mapping is Palanor’s, one GICS sub-industry to one NAICS code; a company’s own mix of business can span several.

  • M Macy's, Inc.

Sources

Where every number comes from

Figures are in current dollars and are the agencies’ own, revised when they revise. Each program defines its universe differently (employer firms, private ownership, all establishments), so figures from different sources are not meant to add up. This page is not endorsed by the Census Bureau, BEA or BLS. The same data is in the Palanor API (/v1/industries) and the MCP (palanor_get_industry). All industries.