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Size of the US Clothing Stores industry

NAICS 4481, Clothing 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)
$186 billion
2017 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars
Sales
$20.6 billion
2026-07 · Monthly Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Sales
$198 billion
2022 · Annual Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Employment
1,190,123
2023 · County Business Patterns
Paid employees in the pay period including March 12
Establishments
83,287
2023 · County Business Patterns
Firms
36,316
2017 · Economic Census

Over time

How it has changed

Sales, seasonally adjusted · Monthly Retail Trade SurveyLatest $20.5 billion · 2026-07
2011-08: $13.5 billion2011-09: $14.0 billion2011-10: $13.8 billion2011-11: $13.9 billion2011-12: $14.1 billion2012-01: $14.1 billion2012-02: $14.6 billion2012-03: $14.5 billion2012-04: $14.2 billion2012-05: $14.1 billion2012-06: $14.4 billion2012-07: $14.2 billion2012-08: $14.4 billion2012-09: $14.4 billion2012-10: $14.4 billion2012-11: $14.3 billion2012-12: $14.4 billion2013-01: $14.8 billion2013-02: $14.6 billion2013-03: $14.5 billion2013-04: $14.6 billion2013-05: $14.7 billion2013-06: $14.6 billion2013-07: $14.8 billion2013-08: $14.6 billion2013-09: $14.5 billion2013-10: $14.7 billion2013-11: $14.4 billion2013-12: $14.6 billion2014-01: $14.6 billion2014-02: $14.5 billion2014-03: $14.7 billion2014-04: $15.1 billion2014-05: $14.8 billion2014-06: $14.8 billion2014-07: $14.9 billion2014-08: $15.0 billion2014-09: $14.9 billion2014-10: $15.1 billion2014-11: $15.3 billion2014-12: $15.3 billion2015-01: $15.0 billion2015-02: $15.2 billion2015-03: $15.3 billion2015-04: $15.3 billion2015-05: $15.4 billion2015-06: $15.2 billion2015-07: $15.4 billion2015-08: $15.5 billion2015-09: $15.3 billion2015-10: $15.2 billion2015-11: $15.2 billion2015-12: $15.2 billion2016-01: $15.2 billion2016-02: $15.5 billion2016-03: $15.3 billion2016-04: $15.2 billion2016-05: $15.3 billion2016-06: $15.5 billion2016-07: $15.3 billion2016-08: $15.6 billion2016-09: $15.7 billion2016-10: $15.5 billion2016-11: $15.2 billion2016-12: $15.6 billion2017-01: $15.8 billion2017-02: $15.5 billion2017-03: $15.6 billion2017-04: $15.6 billion2017-05: $15.4 billion2017-06: $15.5 billion2017-07: $15.4 billion2017-08: $15.5 billion2017-09: $15.5 billion2017-10: $15.5 billion2017-11: $15.6 billion2017-12: $15.5 billion2018-01: $15.6 billion2018-02: $16.0 billion2018-03: $15.5 billion2018-04: $15.6 billion2018-05: $16.3 billion2018-06: $15.8 billion2018-07: $16.0 billion2018-08: $15.8 billion2018-09: $15.8 billion2018-10: $16.0 billion2018-11: $16.0 billion2018-12: $15.8 billion2019-01: $15.7 billion2019-02: $15.6 billion2019-03: $15.9 billion2019-04: $15.9 billion2019-05: $15.8 billion2019-06: $15.8 billion2019-07: $15.9 billion2019-08: $15.9 billion2019-09: $15.7 billion2019-10: $15.9 billion2019-11: $15.8 billion2019-12: $16.5 billion2020-01: $16.1 billion2020-02: $16.1 billion2020-03: $7.6 billion2020-04: $1.7 billion2020-05: $5.1 billion2020-06: $11.1 billion2020-07: $11.8 billion2020-08: $12.3 billion2020-09: $13.8 billion2020-10: $13.6 billion2020-11: $12.8 billion2020-12: $13.2 billion2021-01: $13.7 billion2021-02: $13.2 billion2021-03: $16.1 billion2021-04: $16.1 billion2021-05: $16.5 billion2021-06: $17.4 billion2021-07: $17.0 billion2021-08: $16.6 billion2021-09: $16.8 billion2021-10: $16.8 billion2021-11: $17.2 billion2021-12: $16.4 billion2022-01: $16.0 billion2022-02: $16.3 billion2022-03: $17.2 billion2022-04: $17.2 billion2022-05: $17.0 billion2022-06: $17.0 billion2022-07: $16.6 billion2022-08: $17.0 billion2022-09: $17.1 billion2022-10: $17.3 billion2022-11: $17.1 billion2022-12: $16.9 billion2023-01: $17.5 billion2023-02: $17.4 billion2023-03: $17.3 billion2023-04: $17.2 billion2023-05: $17.0 billion2023-06: $17.1 billion2023-07: $17.5 billion2023-08: $17.8 billion2023-09: $17.7 billion2023-10: $17.4 billion2023-11: $17.5 billion2023-12: $17.7 billion2024-01: $17.4 billion2024-02: $17.6 billion2024-03: $17.1 billion2024-04: $17.6 billion2024-05: $17.9 billion2024-06: $17.8 billion2024-07: $17.8 billion2024-08: $17.7 billion2024-09: $17.8 billion2024-10: $18.0 billion2024-11: $18.2 billion2024-12: $18.4 billion2025-01: $18.7 billion2025-02: $18.5 billion2025-03: $18.8 billion2025-04: $18.9 billion2025-05: $19.1 billion2025-06: $19.3 billion2025-07: $19.4 billion2025-08: $19.6 billion2025-09: $19.6 billion2025-10: $19.8 billion2025-11: $19.9 billion2025-12: $19.8 billion2026-01: $19.5 billion2026-02: $20.1 billion2026-03: $20.2 billion2026-04: $20.1 billion2026-05: $20.3 billion2026-06: $20.3 billion2026-07: $20.5 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-07$20.5 billion
2026-06$20.3 billion
2026-05$20.3 billion
2026-04$20.1 billion
2026-03$20.2 billion
2026-02$20.1 billion
2026-01$19.5 billion
2025-12$19.8 billion
2025-11$19.9 billion
2025-10$19.8 billion
2025-09$19.6 billion
2025-08$19.6 billion
2025-07$19.4 billion
2025-06$19.3 billion
2025-05$19.1 billion
2025-04$18.9 billion
2025-03$18.8 billion
2025-02$18.5 billion
2025-01$18.7 billion
2024-12$18.4 billion
2024-11$18.2 billion
2024-10$18.0 billion
2024-09$17.8 billion
2024-08$17.7 billion
2024-07$17.8 billion
2024-06$17.8 billion
2024-05$17.9 billion
2024-04$17.6 billion
2024-03$17.1 billion
2024-02$17.6 billion
2024-01$17.4 billion
2023-12$17.7 billion
2023-11$17.5 billion
2023-10$17.4 billion
2023-09$17.7 billion
2023-08$17.8 billion
2023-07$17.5 billion
2023-06$17.1 billion
2023-05$17.0 billion
2023-04$17.2 billion
2023-03$17.3 billion
2023-02$17.4 billion
2023-01$17.5 billion
2022-12$16.9 billion
2022-11$17.1 billion
2022-10$17.3 billion
2022-09$17.1 billion
2022-08$17.0 billion
2022-07$16.6 billion
2022-06$17.0 billion
2022-05$17.0 billion
2022-04$17.2 billion
2022-03$17.2 billion
2022-02$16.3 billion
2022-01$16.0 billion
2021-12$16.4 billion
2021-11$17.2 billion
2021-10$16.8 billion
2021-09$16.8 billion
2021-08$16.6 billion
2021-07$17.0 billion
2021-06$17.4 billion
2021-05$16.5 billion
2021-04$16.1 billion
2021-03$16.1 billion
2021-02$13.2 billion
2021-01$13.7 billion
2020-12$13.2 billion
2020-11$12.8 billion
2020-10$13.6 billion
2020-09$13.8 billion
2020-08$12.3 billion
2020-07$11.8 billion
2020-06$11.1 billion
2020-05$5.1 billion
2020-04$1.7 billion
2020-03$7.6 billion
2020-02$16.1 billion
2020-01$16.1 billion
2019-12$16.5 billion
2019-11$15.8 billion
2019-10$15.9 billion
2019-09$15.7 billion
2019-08$15.9 billion
2019-07$15.9 billion
2019-06$15.8 billion
2019-05$15.8 billion
2019-04$15.9 billion
2019-03$15.9 billion
2019-02$15.6 billion
2019-01$15.7 billion
2018-12$15.8 billion
2018-11$16.0 billion
2018-10$16.0 billion
2018-09$15.8 billion
2018-08$15.8 billion
2018-07$16.0 billion
2018-06$15.8 billion
2018-05$16.3 billion
2018-04$15.6 billion
2018-03$15.5 billion
2018-02$16.0 billion
2018-01$15.6 billion
2017-12$15.5 billion
2017-11$15.6 billion
2017-10$15.5 billion
2017-09$15.5 billion
2017-08$15.5 billion
2017-07$15.4 billion
2017-06$15.5 billion
2017-05$15.4 billion
2017-04$15.6 billion
2017-03$15.6 billion
2017-02$15.5 billion
2017-01$15.8 billion
2016-12$15.6 billion
2016-11$15.2 billion
2016-10$15.5 billion
2016-09$15.7 billion
2016-08$15.6 billion
2016-07$15.3 billion
2016-06$15.5 billion
2016-05$15.3 billion
2016-04$15.2 billion
2016-03$15.3 billion
2016-02$15.5 billion
2016-01$15.2 billion
2015-12$15.2 billion
2015-11$15.2 billion
2015-10$15.2 billion
2015-09$15.3 billion
2015-08$15.5 billion
2015-07$15.4 billion
2015-06$15.2 billion
2015-05$15.4 billion
2015-04$15.3 billion
2015-03$15.3 billion
2015-02$15.2 billion
2015-01$15.0 billion
2014-12$15.3 billion
2014-11$15.3 billion
2014-10$15.1 billion
2014-09$14.9 billion
2014-08$15.0 billion
2014-07$14.9 billion
2014-06$14.8 billion
2014-05$14.8 billion
2014-04$15.1 billion
2014-03$14.7 billion
2014-02$14.5 billion
2014-01$14.6 billion
2013-12$14.6 billion
2013-11$14.4 billion
2013-10$14.7 billion
2013-09$14.5 billion
2013-08$14.6 billion
2013-07$14.8 billion
2013-06$14.6 billion
2013-05$14.7 billion
2013-04$14.6 billion
2013-03$14.5 billion
2013-02$14.6 billion
2013-01$14.8 billion
2012-12$14.4 billion
2012-11$14.3 billion
2012-10$14.4 billion
2012-09$14.4 billion
2012-08$14.4 billion
2012-07$14.2 billion
2012-06$14.4 billion
2012-05$14.1 billion
2012-04$14.2 billion
2012-03$14.5 billion
2012-02$14.6 billion
2012-01$14.1 billion
2011-12$14.1 billion
2011-11$13.9 billion
2011-10$13.8 billion
2011-09$14.0 billion
2011-08$13.5 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: Clothing Stores

Sales · Annual Retail Trade SurveyLatest $198 billion · 2022
1992: $83.3 billion1993: $86.0 billion1994: $87.9 billion1995: $88.4 billion1996: $91.3 billion1997: $95.2 billion1998: $102 billion1999: $109 billion2000: $115 billion2001: $117 billion2002: $120 billion2003: $126 billion2004: $134 billion2005: $142 billion2006: $151 billion2007: $158 billion2008: $154 billion2009: $148 billion2010: $155 billion2011: $165 billion2012: $172 billion2013: $175 billion2014: $179 billion2015: $183 billion2016: $186 billion2017: $186 billion2018: $189 billion2019: $189 billion2020: $131 billion2021: $190 billion2022: $198 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2022$198 billion
2021$190 billion
2020$131 billion
2019$189 billion
2018$189 billion
2017$186 billion
2016$186 billion
2015$183 billion
2014$179 billion
2013$175 billion
2012$172 billion
2011$165 billion
2010$155 billion
2009$148 billion
2008$154 billion
2007$158 billion
2006$151 billion
2005$142 billion
2004$134 billion
2003$126 billion
2002$120 billion
2001$117 billion
2000$115 billion
1999$109 billion
1998$102 billion
1997$95.2 billion
1996$91.3 billion
1995$88.4 billion
1994$87.9 billion
1993$86.0 billion
1992$83.3 billion

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

Employment · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 854,047 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 955,9502019-Q2: 960,5642019-Q3: 938,6212019-Q4: 1,073,6342020-Q1: 897,9882020-Q2: 578,0652020-Q3: 725,3602020-Q4: 849,9502021-Q1: 694,8932021-Q2: 748,0492021-Q3: 755,7362021-Q4: 854,047
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q4854,047
2021-Q3755,736
2021-Q2748,049
2021-Q1694,893
2020-Q4849,950
2020-Q3725,360
2020-Q2578,065
2020-Q1897,988
2019-Q41,073,634
2019-Q3938,621
2019-Q2960,564
2019-Q1955,950

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 1,190,123 · 2023
2017: 1,392,5632018: 1,342,7022019: 1,325,0452020: 1,287,3542021: 1,054,6162022: 1,139,1412023: 1,190,123
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
20231,190,123
20221,139,141
20211,054,616
20201,287,354
20191,325,045
20181,342,702
20171,392,563

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

Establishments · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 77,065 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 81,7352019-Q2: 81,9732019-Q3: 81,3772019-Q4: 81,6092020-Q1: 81,1042020-Q2: 79,6922020-Q3: 79,6862020-Q4: 79,3912021-Q1: 76,6162021-Q2: 75,8742021-Q3: 76,4412021-Q4: 77,065
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q477,065
2021-Q376,441
2021-Q275,874
2021-Q176,616
2020-Q479,391
2020-Q379,686
2020-Q279,692
2020-Q181,104
2019-Q481,609
2019-Q381,377
2019-Q281,973
2019-Q181,735

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

Establishments · County Business PatternsLatest 83,287 · 2023
2017: 96,1952018: 94,1932019: 93,0212020: 90,1632021: 84,5952022: 82,5012023: 83,287
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
202383,287
202282,501
202184,595
202090,163
201993,021
201894,193
201796,195

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

Total wages in the quarter · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest $5.9 billion · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: $5.3 billion2019-Q2: $5.3 billion2019-Q3: $5.3 billion2019-Q4: $5.7 billion2020-Q1: $5.3 billion2020-Q2: $2.9 billion2020-Q3: $4.2 billion2020-Q4: $5.2 billion2021-Q1: $4.1 billion2021-Q2: $4.7 billion2021-Q3: $5.0 billion2021-Q4: $5.9 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q4$5.9 billion
2021-Q3$5.0 billion
2021-Q2$4.7 billion
2021-Q1$4.1 billion
2020-Q4$5.2 billion
2020-Q3$4.2 billion
2020-Q2$2.9 billion
2020-Q1$5.3 billion
2019-Q4$5.7 billion
2019-Q3$5.3 billion
2019-Q2$5.3 billion
2019-Q1$5.3 billion

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

Annual payroll · County Business PatternsLatest $28.2 billion · 2023
2017: $23.9 billion2018: $24.6 billion2019: $24.6 billion2020: $20.9 billion2021: $23.4 billion2022: $26.4 billion2023: $28.2 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023$28.2 billion
2022$26.4 billion
2021$23.4 billion
2020$20.9 billion
2019$24.6 billion
2018$24.6 billion
2017$23.9 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 Wages854,0472021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
EstablishmentsPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages77,0652021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages$5.9 billion2021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsAnnual Retail Trade Survey$198 billion20221992–2022 · 31 published
Annual payrollCounty Business Patterns$28.2 billion20232017–2023 · 7 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12County Business Patterns1,190,12320232017–2023 · 7 published
EstablishmentsCounty Business Patterns83,28720232017–2023 · 7 published
Annual payrollEconomic Census$23.7 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12Economic Census1,418,67920172017–2017 · 1 published
EstablishmentsEconomic Census96,41920172017–2017 · 1 published
FirmsEconomic Census36,31620172017–2017 · 1 published
Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollarsEconomic Census$186 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$20.6 billion2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published
Sales, seasonally adjustedEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$20.5 billion2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published

Breakdown

Industries within Clothing Stores

NAICSIndustrySizeEmployment
44811Men's Clothing Stores$9.0 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census47,1312023 · CBP
44812Women's Clothing Stores$37.9 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census218,4372023 · CBP
44813Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores$7.5 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census26,0682023 · CBP
44814Family Clothing Stores$105 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census739,9322023 · CBP
44815Clothing Accessories Stores$10.8 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census52,9952023 · CBP
44819Other Clothing Stores$16.4 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census105,5602023 · CBP

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.