NA Not available.
1 Through 1982, represents the number of establishments and firmsin business at the end of year.Beginning 1987, represents the number of establishments and firms inbusiness at any time during year.


2 Establishments of firms that operate at two or morelocations.
3 Through 1982, represents establishments with and without payroll.Beginning 1987, represents only establishments with payroll.
4 Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review.Beginning 1982, CPI-U annual averages, see text, Section 15, Prices.
5 Prior to 1982, data provided for percent of multiunit sales by101-or-more establishment units.
6 Based on implicit price deflators for retail sales supplied byU.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
7 Based on estimated resident population as of July 1.
8 Covers only establishments with payroll.
9 1958 and 1963 data for week including November 15.

Source: Except as noted, U.S. Census Bureau,U.S Census of Business: 1958, Vol. I; 1963, Vol. I 1967, Vol. 1;and Census of Retail Trade, 1972, RC72-S-1; 1977, RC77-52;1982, RC82-A-52 and RC82-I-1; 1987, RC87-A-52, RC87-N-1, andRC87-S-1; and 1992, RC92-A-52, RC92-N-1, RC92-S-1. and EC97X-CS2

http://www.census.gov/econ/www/retmenu.html*CENSUS OF RETAIL TRADE

PURPOSE

To provide periodic and comprehensive statistics about retail establishments and activities. The United States Code, Title13, requires this census and provides for mandatory responses.

COVERAGE

Domestic establishments that sell merchandise and related services to the public for personal or household consumption.These are all establishments classified in SIC Division G, excluding nonemployers engaged in direct selling (SIC 5963). In1992, over 1.5 million employer establishments accounted for retail sales of nearly $1.9 trillion.

CONTENT

Basic data obtained for all establishments include kind of business, geographic location, dollar volume of sales, annual andfirst quarter payroll, and employment for the pay period including March 12. Establishments receiving a census formprovide additional data on organizational status, sales by class of customer, sales by merchandise line, method of selling,and industry-specific measures (such as number of prescriptions by drug stores).

FREQUENCY

Every 5 years since 1972, for years ending in "2" and "7." From 1929 through 1967, retail trade statistics were publishedperiodically as part of the census of business. Data collection begins in December of the census year and responses are duein about 8 weeks. Data are requested for activities taking place during the census calendar year.

METHODS

A mail-out/mail-back data collection for establishments of multi-unit companies, large single-unit employers, and a sampleof small employers; and administrative records data for non-selected small employers and all nonemployers. Allestablishments of multi-unit firms and single-unit employers with annualized payroll above a size cutoff (for most industries,equivalent to about 3 employees) receive a census form. A sample of small employers also receives a census form. Thissample is selected using a stratified sampling procedure with strata based on industry and geography. Basic data for non-selected small employers and nonemployers are obtained from Federal administrative records. Estimates for sales bymerchandise line and other industry-specific data are based partly on small employer sample results.

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