The wholesale and retail trade supersector is made up of two parts: the wholesale trade sector (sector 42), and the retail trade sector (sector 44 - 45).
The wholesale trade sector comprises establishments engaged in wholesaling merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The wholesaling process is an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise. Wholesalers are organized to sell or arrange the purchase or sale of (a) goods for resale (i.e., goods sold to other wholesalers or retailers), (b) capital or durable nonconsumer goods, and (c) raw and intermediate materials and supplies used in production. Wholesalers sell merchandise to other businesses and normally operate from a warehouse or office.
The retail trade sector comprises establishments engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The retailing process is the final step in the distribution of merchandise; retailers are, therefore, organized to sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public. This sector comprises two main types of retailers: store and nonstore retailers.
Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages data show that wholesale and retail trade make up a large part of the nation's employment and business establishments. In the economy as a whole, wholesale trade represents about 4.4 percent of all employment and about 7.2 percent of all establishments; while retail trade is about 11.7 percent of all employment and about 12.9 percent of all establishments.
Current Employment Statistics estimates show annual average employment in wholesale trade during the 1994 - 2003 period was between 5,247,300 (in 1994) and 5,933,200 (2000). During 2003, wholesale trade employment averaged 5,605,600. In retail trade during the same period employment ranged from 13,490,800 (1994) to 15,279,800 (2000). Retail trade employment averaged 14,911,500 in 2003.
Annual employment of nonsupervisory workers in wholesale trade was 4,196,400 in 1994 and reached a peak of 4,686,400 in 2000. Employment of nonsupervisory workers in wholesale trade averaged 4,394,500 in 2003. In retail trade, nonsupervisory workers numbered 11,502,100 in 1994, and peaked at 13,039,800 in 2000. Employment of nonsupervisory workers in retail trade averaged 12,648,700 in 2003.
The annual average of the average weekly hours of nonsupervisory workers in wholesale trade was 37.8 in 2003; in retail trade, the corresponding average weekly hours number was 30.9 in the same year. For all private industry, the average was 33.7.
In wholesale trade, the average hourly earnings of nonsupervisory workers were $17.36 in 2003; in retail trade, nonsupervisory workers' average hourly earnings were $11.90. The average earnings for production and nonsupervisory workers in all private industry were $15.35 in 2003.
According to the Current Population Survey, in 2003, the unemployment rate of persons most recently employed in wholesale and retail trade was 6.0 percent, the same as the overall unemployment rate.
Data from the Mass Layoff Statistics program show that in 2002:
in wholesale trade, there were 150 extended mass layoff events, resulting in 24,205 separations of workers from their jobs, and 19,476 initial claimants for unemployment insurance;
in retail trade, there were 412 extended mass layoff events, 135,679 separations, and 108,419 initial claimants.
Employment Projections data indicate that wholesale trade employment will increase 11.3 percent over the 2002 - 12 period. Retail trade employment will increase 13.8 percent. Total employment for all industry sectors is projected to grow 14.8 percent.
Labor productivity - defined as output per hour - grew by 5.6 percent in wholesale trade from 2001 to 2002, according to data from the Productivity and Costs program; the growth in output per hour in retail trade was 4.5 percent. There are separate measures of productivity for many industries at the 4-digit NAICS level of classification.
The Producer Price Index program publishes data for many industries in the retail trade sector.
In 2003, there were 191 fatal occupational injuries in wholesale trade, and 343 fatal occupational injuries in retail trade; there were 247,600 nonfatal injuries and illnesses in wholesale trade, while in retail trade there were 620,900 nonfatal injuries and illnesses, according to data from the Injuries, Illnesses, and Fatalities program. In wholesale trade, the nonfatal injuries and illnesses incidence rate was 4.7 per 100 full-time workers; in retail trade, the incidence rate was 5.3 per 100 full-time workers. The rate was 5.0 per 100 full-time workers in all private industry.
Some businesses in this industry are:
|
Antiques Dealer Art Dealers Art Sales Custom Framing Art Supply Store Artificial Flowers Importers Athletic Shoe Stores Automobile Dealership Automotive Parts and Accessories Store Boat Dealers Book Stores Building Material Dealers Business to Business Electronic Markets Clothing Stores Commercial Equipment Wholesalers Construction Material Wholesalers Crafts Stores Department Stores Durable Goods Wholesalers Electronic Auctions Electronic Parts Wholesalers Electronic Shopping Electronics Stores Equipment Wholesalers Farm Product Wholesalers Farm Supply Stores Florists Fuel Dealers Garden Centers Gasoline Stations Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores Grocery Wholesalers Hardware Wholesalers Health and Personal Care Stores Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
Home Centers Home Furnishing Stores Home Furnishing Wholesalers Household Appliance Stores Industrial Wholesalers Internet Auctions Jewelry Stores Liquor Stores Luggage and Leather Goods Stores Mail-Order Houses Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers Motor Vehicle Dealers Motor Vehicle Wholesalers Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores New Parts Wholesalers News Dealers and Newsstands Nurseries Office Supplies and Stationery Stores Outdoor Power Equipment Stores Personal Service Wholesalers Pet and Pet Supplies Stores Pharmacies and Drug Stores Prerecorded Tape, Compact Disc, and Record Stores Professional Equipment Wholesalers Retail Store Sewing, Needlework, and Piece Goods Stores Sporting Goods Stores Supermarkets Supplies Wholesalers Tobacco Stores Used Merchandise Stores Vending Machine Operators Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
Information courtesy of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
