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Size of the US Automobile Dealers industry

NAICS 4411, Automobile Dealers. 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.

Key figures

Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)
$1.35 trillion
2022 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars
Sales
$126 billion
2026-07 · Monthly Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Sales
$1.35 trillion
2022 · Annual Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Employment
1,275,823
2026-Q1 · Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter
Establishments
46,508
2026-Q1 · Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Private ownership
Firms
40,014
2022 · Economic Census

Over time

How it has changed

Sales · Monthly Retail Trade SurveyLatest $126 billion · 2026-07
2011-08: $58.3 billion2011-09: $55.3 billion2011-10: $54.6 billion2011-11: $53.3 billion2011-12: $60.2 billion2012-01: $52.0 billion2012-02: $59.0 billion2012-03: $67.5 billion2012-04: $60.6 billion2012-05: $65.9 billion2012-06: $62.2 billion2012-07: $62.3 billion2012-08: $67.3 billion2012-09: $59.8 billion2012-10: $60.3 billion2012-11: $58.9 billion2012-12: $63.9 billion2013-01: $59.0 billion2013-02: $61.9 billion2013-03: $70.5 billion2013-04: $67.9 billion2013-05: $72.1 billion2013-06: $68.7 billion2013-07: $72.3 billion2013-08: $74.8 billion2013-09: $63.7 billion2013-10: $66.4 billion2013-11: $64.3 billion2013-12: $67.8 billion2014-01: $60.1 billion2014-02: $63.5 billion2014-03: $76.8 billion2014-04: $73.9 billion2014-05: $78.4 billion2014-06: $72.6 billion2014-07: $77.1 billion2014-08: $79.4 billion2014-09: $70.8 billion2014-10: $71.9 billion2014-11: $68.2 billion2014-12: $75.9 billion2015-01: $68.0 billion2015-02: $68.3 billion2015-03: $82.2 billion2015-04: $79.1 billion2015-05: $82.6 billion2015-06: $79.5 billion2015-07: $83.2 billion2015-08: $84.3 billion2015-09: $77.9 billion2015-10: $77.6 billion2015-11: $73.0 billion2015-12: $81.5 billion2016-01: $69.5 billion2016-02: $77.1 billion2016-03: $85.2 billion2016-04: $82.0 billion2016-05: $83.1 billion2016-06: $82.1 billion2016-07: $84.6 billion2016-08: $88.9 billion2016-09: $81.6 billion2016-10: $79.5 billion2016-11: $77.9 billion2016-12: $88.3 billion2017-01: $73.6 billion2017-02: $76.6 billion2017-03: $89.8 billion2017-04: $81.2 billion2017-05: $88.5 billion2017-06: $85.2 billion2017-07: $86.2 billion2017-08: $88.8 billion2017-09: $85.3 billion2017-10: $83.2 billion2017-11: $81.5 billion2017-12: $87.1 billion2018-01: $75.7 billion2018-02: $76.5 billion2018-03: $93.1 billion2018-04: $83.1 billion2018-05: $91.3 billion2018-06: $87.2 billion2018-07: $87.2 billion2018-08: $91.4 billion2018-09: $81.3 billion2018-10: $84.1 billion2018-11: $81.6 billion2018-12: $88.6 billion2019-01: $75.3 billion2019-02: $76.5 billion2019-03: $93.5 billion2019-04: $86.4 billion2019-05: $93.6 billion2019-06: $87.3 billion2019-07: $91.7 billion2019-08: $97.2 billion2019-09: $84.3 billion2019-10: $87.8 billion2019-11: $86.3 billion2019-12: $89.3 billion2020-01: $78.6 billion2020-02: $82.1 billion2020-03: $66.1 billion2020-04: $54.2 billion2020-05: $84.5 billion2020-06: $89.2 billion2020-07: $92.4 billion2020-08: $93.4 billion2020-09: $92.3 billion2020-10: $93.8 billion2020-11: $84.7 billion2020-12: $96.9 billion2021-01: $85.8 billion2021-02: $84.0 billion2021-03: $119 billion2021-04: $116 billion2021-05: $115 billion2021-06: $110 billion2021-07: $108 billion2021-08: $103 billion2021-09: $99.2 billion2021-10: $100 billion2021-11: $97.4 billion2021-12: $104 billion2022-01: $95.8 billion2022-02: $98.2 billion2022-03: $116 billion2022-04: $114 billion2022-05: $109 billion2022-06: $109 billion2022-07: $105 billion2022-08: $113 billion2022-09: $104 billion2022-10: $106 billion2022-11: $99.6 billion2022-12: $105 billion2023-01: $100 billion2023-02: $100 billion2023-03: $119 billion2023-04: $111 billion2023-05: $118 billion2023-06: $116 billion2023-07: $113 billion2023-08: $119 billion2023-09: $112 billion2023-10: $109 billion2023-11: $106 billion2023-12: $112 billion2024-01: $101 billion2024-02: $108 billion2024-03: $118 billion2024-04: $116 billion2024-05: $120 billion2024-06: $107 billion2024-07: $117 billion2024-08: $121 billion2024-09: $108 billion2024-10: $116 billion2024-11: $115 billion2024-12: $122 billion2025-01: $107 billion2025-02: $106 billion2025-03: $132 billion2025-04: $127 billion2025-05: $123 billion2025-06: $114 billion2025-07: $123 billion2025-08: $125 billion2025-09: $118 billion2025-10: $119 billion2025-11: $112 billion2025-12: $123 billion2026-01: $107 billion2026-02: $110 billion2026-03: $128 billion2026-04: $123 billion2026-05: $125 billion2026-06: $124 billion2026-07: $126 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-07$126 billion
2026-06$124 billion
2026-05$125 billion
2026-04$123 billion
2026-03$128 billion
2026-02$110 billion
2026-01$107 billion
2025-12$123 billion
2025-11$112 billion
2025-10$119 billion
2025-09$118 billion
2025-08$125 billion
2025-07$123 billion
2025-06$114 billion
2025-05$123 billion
2025-04$127 billion
2025-03$132 billion
2025-02$106 billion
2025-01$107 billion
2024-12$122 billion
2024-11$115 billion
2024-10$116 billion
2024-09$108 billion
2024-08$121 billion
2024-07$117 billion
2024-06$107 billion
2024-05$120 billion
2024-04$116 billion
2024-03$118 billion
2024-02$108 billion
2024-01$101 billion
2023-12$112 billion
2023-11$106 billion
2023-10$109 billion
2023-09$112 billion
2023-08$119 billion
2023-07$113 billion
2023-06$116 billion
2023-05$118 billion
2023-04$111 billion
2023-03$119 billion
2023-02$100 billion
2023-01$100 billion
2022-12$105 billion
2022-11$99.6 billion
2022-10$106 billion
2022-09$104 billion
2022-08$113 billion
2022-07$105 billion
2022-06$109 billion
2022-05$109 billion
2022-04$114 billion
2022-03$116 billion
2022-02$98.2 billion
2022-01$95.8 billion
2021-12$104 billion
2021-11$97.4 billion
2021-10$100 billion
2021-09$99.2 billion
2021-08$103 billion
2021-07$108 billion
2021-06$110 billion
2021-05$115 billion
2021-04$116 billion
2021-03$119 billion
2021-02$84.0 billion
2021-01$85.8 billion
2020-12$96.9 billion
2020-11$84.7 billion
2020-10$93.8 billion
2020-09$92.3 billion
2020-08$93.4 billion
2020-07$92.4 billion
2020-06$89.2 billion
2020-05$84.5 billion
2020-04$54.2 billion
2020-03$66.1 billion
2020-02$82.1 billion
2020-01$78.6 billion
2019-12$89.3 billion
2019-11$86.3 billion
2019-10$87.8 billion
2019-09$84.3 billion
2019-08$97.2 billion
2019-07$91.7 billion
2019-06$87.3 billion
2019-05$93.6 billion
2019-04$86.4 billion
2019-03$93.5 billion
2019-02$76.5 billion
2019-01$75.3 billion
2018-12$88.6 billion
2018-11$81.6 billion
2018-10$84.1 billion
2018-09$81.3 billion
2018-08$91.4 billion
2018-07$87.2 billion
2018-06$87.2 billion
2018-05$91.3 billion
2018-04$83.1 billion
2018-03$93.1 billion
2018-02$76.5 billion
2018-01$75.7 billion
2017-12$87.1 billion
2017-11$81.5 billion
2017-10$83.2 billion
2017-09$85.3 billion
2017-08$88.8 billion
2017-07$86.2 billion
2017-06$85.2 billion
2017-05$88.5 billion
2017-04$81.2 billion
2017-03$89.8 billion
2017-02$76.6 billion
2017-01$73.6 billion
2016-12$88.3 billion
2016-11$77.9 billion
2016-10$79.5 billion
2016-09$81.6 billion
2016-08$88.9 billion
2016-07$84.6 billion
2016-06$82.1 billion
2016-05$83.1 billion
2016-04$82.0 billion
2016-03$85.2 billion
2016-02$77.1 billion
2016-01$69.5 billion
2015-12$81.5 billion
2015-11$73.0 billion
2015-10$77.6 billion
2015-09$77.9 billion
2015-08$84.3 billion
2015-07$83.2 billion
2015-06$79.5 billion
2015-05$82.6 billion
2015-04$79.1 billion
2015-03$82.2 billion
2015-02$68.3 billion
2015-01$68.0 billion
2014-12$75.9 billion
2014-11$68.2 billion
2014-10$71.9 billion
2014-09$70.8 billion
2014-08$79.4 billion
2014-07$77.1 billion
2014-06$72.6 billion
2014-05$78.4 billion
2014-04$73.9 billion
2014-03$76.8 billion
2014-02$63.5 billion
2014-01$60.1 billion
2013-12$67.8 billion
2013-11$64.3 billion
2013-10$66.4 billion
2013-09$63.7 billion
2013-08$74.8 billion
2013-07$72.3 billion
2013-06$68.7 billion
2013-05$72.1 billion
2013-04$67.9 billion
2013-03$70.5 billion
2013-02$61.9 billion
2013-01$59.0 billion
2012-12$63.9 billion
2012-11$58.9 billion
2012-10$60.3 billion
2012-09$59.8 billion
2012-08$67.3 billion
2012-07$62.3 billion
2012-06$62.2 billion
2012-05$65.9 billion
2012-04$60.6 billion
2012-03$67.5 billion
2012-02$59.0 billion
2012-01$52.0 billion
2011-12$60.2 billion
2011-11$53.3 billion
2011-10$54.6 billion
2011-09$55.3 billion
2011-08$58.3 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: Automobile Dealers

Sales · Annual Retail Trade SurveyLatest $1.35 trillion · 2022
1992: $350 billion1993: $398 billion1994: $458 billion1995: $491 billion1996: $533 billion1997: $554 billion1998: $582 billion1999: $650 billion2000: $675 billion2001: $695 billion2002: $694 billion2003: $709 billion2004: $724 billion2005: $740 billion2006: $748 billion2007: $754 billion2008: $637 billion2009: $540 billion2010: $609 billion2011: $672 billion2012: $740 billion2013: $809 billion2014: $868 billion2015: $937 billion2016: $980 billion2017: $1.01 trillion2018: $1.03 trillion2019: $1.07 trillion2020: $1.04 trillion2021: $1.30 trillion2022: $1.35 trillion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2022$1.35 trillion
2021$1.30 trillion
2020$1.04 trillion
2019$1.07 trillion
2018$1.03 trillion
2017$1.01 trillion
2016$980 billion
2015$937 billion
2014$868 billion
2013$809 billion
2012$740 billion
2011$672 billion
2010$609 billion
2009$540 billion
2008$637 billion
2007$754 billion
2006$748 billion
2005$740 billion
2004$724 billion
2003$709 billion
2002$694 billion
2001$695 billion
2000$675 billion
1999$650 billion
1998$582 billion
1997$554 billion
1996$533 billion
1995$491 billion
1994$458 billion
1993$398 billion
1992$350 billion

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

Employment · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 1,275,823 · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: 1,292,8482019-Q2: 1,300,9902019-Q3: 1,301,2282019-Q4: 1,298,9452020-Q1: 1,294,9282020-Q2: 1,149,1012020-Q3: 1,193,5712020-Q4: 1,211,5472021-Q1: 1,217,9382021-Q2: 1,231,5332021-Q3: 1,233,3732021-Q4: 1,242,5682022-Q1: 1,250,8462022-Q2: 1,256,3102022-Q3: 1,258,3542022-Q4: 1,259,2372023-Q1: 1,260,6352023-Q2: 1,272,0542023-Q3: 1,277,7372023-Q4: 1,282,6572024-Q1: 1,278,8682024-Q2: 1,280,6542024-Q3: 1,283,8732024-Q4: 1,282,2542025-Q1: 1,287,9452025-Q2: 1,291,7172025-Q3: 1,286,2822025-Q4: 1,285,2362026-Q1: 1,275,823NAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q11,275,8232022
2025-Q41,285,2362022
2025-Q31,286,2822022
2025-Q21,291,7172022
2025-Q11,287,9452022
2024-Q41,282,2542022
2024-Q31,283,8732022
2024-Q21,280,6542022
2024-Q11,278,8682022
2023-Q41,282,6572022
2023-Q31,277,7372022
2023-Q21,272,0542022
2023-Q11,260,6352022
2022-Q41,259,2372022
2022-Q31,258,3542022
2022-Q21,256,3102022
2022-Q11,250,8462022
2021-Q41,242,5682017
2021-Q31,233,3732017
2021-Q21,231,5332017
2021-Q11,217,9382017
2020-Q41,211,5472017
2020-Q31,193,5712017
2020-Q21,149,1012017
2020-Q11,294,9282017
2019-Q41,298,9452017
2019-Q31,301,2282017
2019-Q21,300,9902017
2019-Q11,292,8482017

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 1,293,388 · 2023
2017: 1,332,1202018: 1,334,4172019: 1,333,8532020: 1,343,8262021: 1,257,8772022: 1,298,6572023: 1,293,388
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
20231,293,388
20221,298,657
20211,257,877
20201,343,826
20191,333,853
20181,334,417
20171,332,120

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

Establishments · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 46,508 · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: 45,8982019-Q2: 45,9482019-Q3: 46,0932019-Q4: 46,1752020-Q1: 46,1072020-Q2: 45,9822020-Q3: 46,3102020-Q4: 46,6472021-Q1: 46,5232021-Q2: 46,6782021-Q3: 46,9722021-Q4: 47,3992022-Q1: 47,5532022-Q2: 47,7632022-Q3: 47,9692022-Q4: 48,1282023-Q1: 48,0252023-Q2: 47,9822023-Q3: 48,0662023-Q4: 48,0342024-Q1: 47,3172024-Q2: 47,3172024-Q3: 47,2302024-Q4: 47,1532025-Q1: 46,4632025-Q2: 46,4292025-Q3: 46,5392025-Q4: 46,6632026-Q1: 46,508NAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q146,5082022
2025-Q446,6632022
2025-Q346,5392022
2025-Q246,4292022
2025-Q146,4632022
2024-Q447,1532022
2024-Q347,2302022
2024-Q247,3172022
2024-Q147,3172022
2023-Q448,0342022
2023-Q348,0662022
2023-Q247,9822022
2023-Q148,0252022
2022-Q448,1282022
2022-Q347,9692022
2022-Q247,7632022
2022-Q147,5532022
2021-Q447,3992017
2021-Q346,9722017
2021-Q246,6782017
2021-Q146,5232017
2020-Q446,6472017
2020-Q346,3102017
2020-Q245,9822017
2020-Q146,1072017
2019-Q446,1752017
2019-Q346,0932017
2019-Q245,9482017
2019-Q145,8982017

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

Establishments · County Business PatternsLatest 47,057 · 2023
2017: 47,1482018: 46,8712019: 46,5252020: 46,5692021: 47,2712022: 47,4422023: 47,057
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
202347,057
202247,442
202147,271
202046,569
201946,525
201846,871
201747,148

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

Total wages in the quarter · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest $26.0 billion · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: $18.3 billion2019-Q2: $19.5 billion2019-Q3: $19.7 billion2019-Q4: $20.1 billion2020-Q1: $19.4 billion2020-Q2: $16.2 billion2020-Q3: $20.4 billion2020-Q4: $22.1 billion2021-Q1: $19.9 billion2021-Q2: $25.2 billion2021-Q3: $25.4 billion2021-Q4: $27.7 billion2022-Q1: $24.9 billion2022-Q2: $26.6 billion2022-Q3: $26.7 billion2022-Q4: $26.6 billion2023-Q1: $24.9 billion2023-Q2: $25.8 billion2023-Q3: $25.6 billion2023-Q4: $26.1 billion2024-Q1: $24.8 billion2024-Q2: $25.6 billion2024-Q3: $25.1 billion2024-Q4: $26.7 billion2025-Q1: $25.5 billion2025-Q2: $27.4 billion2025-Q3: $26.4 billion2025-Q4: $27.3 billion2026-Q1: $26.0 billionNAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q1$26.0 billion2022
2025-Q4$27.3 billion2022
2025-Q3$26.4 billion2022
2025-Q2$27.4 billion2022
2025-Q1$25.5 billion2022
2024-Q4$26.7 billion2022
2024-Q3$25.1 billion2022
2024-Q2$25.6 billion2022
2024-Q1$24.8 billion2022
2023-Q4$26.1 billion2022
2023-Q3$25.6 billion2022
2023-Q2$25.8 billion2022
2023-Q1$24.9 billion2022
2022-Q4$26.6 billion2022
2022-Q3$26.7 billion2022
2022-Q2$26.6 billion2022
2022-Q1$24.9 billion2022
2021-Q4$27.7 billion2017
2021-Q3$25.4 billion2017
2021-Q2$25.2 billion2017
2021-Q1$19.9 billion2017
2020-Q4$22.1 billion2017
2020-Q3$20.4 billion2017
2020-Q2$16.2 billion2017
2020-Q1$19.4 billion2017
2019-Q4$20.1 billion2017
2019-Q3$19.7 billion2017
2019-Q2$19.5 billion2017
2019-Q1$18.3 billion2017

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

Annual payroll · County Business PatternsLatest $98.8 billion · 2023
2017: $70.3 billion2018: $71.0 billion2019: $74.1 billion2020: $74.8 billion2021: $93.8 billion2022: $101 billion2023: $98.8 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023$98.8 billion
2022$101 billion
2021$93.8 billion
2020$74.8 billion
2019$74.1 billion
2018$71.0 billion
2017$70.3 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 Wages1,275,8232026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
EstablishmentsPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages46,5082026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages$26.0 billion2026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsAnnual Retail Trade Survey$1.35 trillion20221992–2022 · 31 published
Annual payrollCounty Business Patterns$98.8 billion20232017–2023 · 7 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12County Business Patterns1,293,38820232017–2023 · 7 published
EstablishmentsCounty Business Patterns47,05720232017–2023 · 7 published
Annual payrollEconomic Census$98.5 billion20222017–2022 · 2 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12Economic Census1,332,64520222017–2022 · 2 published
EstablishmentsEconomic Census47,42720222017–2022 · 2 published
FirmsEconomic Census40,01420222017–2022 · 2 published
Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollarsEconomic Census$1.35 trillion20222017–2022 · 2 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$126 billion2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published

Breakdown

Industries within Automobile Dealers

NAICSIndustrySizeEmployment
44111New Car Dealers$1.19 trillionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census1,110,0542026-Q1 · QCEW
44112Used Car Dealers$160 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census165,7692026-Q1 · QCEW

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.