X Not applicable.
1 Definition of paid employees varies among sectors.|Source: U.S. Census Bureau,1997 Economic Census, Series EC97X-CS2Core Business Statistics Series: Comparative Statistics

http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/advanc2a.htm*CENSUS OF RETAIL TRADE

PURPOSE

To provide periodic and comprehensive statistics about retailestablishments and activities. The United States Code, Title 13, requiresthis census and provides for mandatory responses.

COVERAGE

Domestic establishments that sell merchandise and related services to thepublic for personal or household consumption. These are all establishmentsclassified in SIC Division G, excluding nonemployers engaged in directselling (SIC 5963). In 1992, over 1.5 million employer establishmentsaccounted 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 and first quarterpayroll, and employment for the pay period including March 12.Establishments receiving a census form provide additional data onorganizational status, sales by class of customer, sales by merchandiseline, method of selling, and industry-specific measures (such as number ofprescriptions by drug stores).

FREQUENCY

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

METHODS

A mail-out/mail-back data collection for establishments of multi-unitcompanies, large single-unit employers, and a sample of small employers;and administrative records data for non-selected small employers and allnonemployers. All establishments of multi-unit firms and single-unitemployers with annualized payroll above a size cutoff (for most industries,equivalent to about 3 employees) receive a census form. A sample of smallemployers also receives a census form. This sample is selected using astratified sampling procedure with strata based on industry and geography.Basic data for non- selected small employers and nonemployers are obtainedfrom Federal administrative records. Estimates for sales by merchandiseline and other industry-specific data are based partly on small employersample results.

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