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Size of the US Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses industry

NAICS 4541, Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses. 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)
$516 billion
2017 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars
Sales
$129 billion
2026-07 · Monthly Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Sales
$1.06 trillion
2022 · Annual Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Employment
881,019
2023 · County Business Patterns
Paid employees in the pay period including March 12
Establishments
54,707
2023 · County Business Patterns
Firms
40,128
2017 · Economic Census

Over time

Sales, seasonally adjusted · Monthly Retail Trade SurveyLatest $130 billion · 2026-07
2011-08: $24.1 billion2011-09: $24.2 billion2011-10: $24.9 billion2011-11: $25.2 billion2011-12: $25.4 billion2012-01: $25.4 billion2012-02: $25.9 billion2012-03: $25.9 billion2012-04: $26.0 billion2012-05: $26.4 billion2012-06: $26.5 billion2012-07: $26.8 billion2012-08: $27.2 billion2012-09: $27.3 billion2012-10: $27.3 billion2012-11: $27.9 billion2012-12: $27.9 billion2013-01: $28.2 billion2013-02: $27.9 billion2013-03: $27.8 billion2013-04: $27.7 billion2013-05: $27.9 billion2013-06: $27.8 billion2013-07: $28.1 billion2013-08: $28.3 billion2013-09: $28.4 billion2013-10: $28.1 billion2013-11: $28.4 billion2013-12: $29.0 billion2014-01: $28.2 billion2014-02: $28.9 billion2014-03: $29.6 billion2014-04: $29.9 billion2014-05: $30.1 billion2014-06: $30.9 billion2014-07: $30.8 billion2014-08: $31.1 billion2014-09: $31.3 billion2014-10: $31.9 billion2014-11: $31.9 billion2014-12: $32.4 billion2015-01: $32.5 billion2015-02: $32.8 billion2015-03: $32.9 billion2015-04: $33.4 billion2015-05: $33.5 billion2015-06: $33.5 billion2015-07: $34.3 billion2015-08: $34.4 billion2015-09: $34.8 billion2015-10: $35.1 billion2015-11: $35.3 billion2015-12: $35.6 billion2016-01: $36.1 billion2016-02: $36.3 billion2016-03: $36.6 billion2016-04: $36.9 billion2016-05: $37.4 billion2016-06: $38.0 billion2016-07: $38.0 billion2016-08: $38.4 billion2016-09: $38.8 billion2016-10: $39.1 billion2016-11: $39.5 billion2016-12: $40.2 billion2017-01: $40.5 billion2017-02: $40.7 billion2017-03: $41.3 billion2017-04: $41.7 billion2017-05: $42.2 billion2017-06: $42.7 billion2017-07: $43.0 billion2017-08: $43.1 billion2017-09: $43.5 billion2017-10: $43.2 billion2017-11: $45.3 billion2017-12: $45.9 billion2018-01: $45.4 billion2018-02: $46.0 billion2018-03: $46.7 billion2018-04: $46.8 billion2018-05: $47.6 billion2018-06: $47.8 billion2018-07: $48.5 billion2018-08: $48.8 billion2018-09: $49.4 billion2018-10: $49.4 billion2018-11: $51.9 billion2018-12: $45.4 billion2019-01: $50.1 billion2019-02: $50.6 billion2019-03: $50.4 billion2019-04: $50.8 billion2019-05: $54.2 billion2019-06: $54.8 billion2019-07: $55.1 billion2019-08: $55.5 billion2019-09: $56.0 billion2019-10: $56.2 billion2019-11: $56.1 billion2019-12: $55.7 billion2020-01: $56.8 billion2020-02: $57.5 billion2020-03: $61.5 billion2020-04: $70.7 billion2020-05: $78.4 billion2020-06: $75.8 billion2020-07: $76.7 billion2020-08: $78.9 billion2020-09: $78.3 billion2020-10: $78.8 billion2020-11: $79.9 billion2020-12: $81.0 billion2021-01: $80.5 billion2021-02: $77.9 billion2021-03: $83.2 billion2021-04: $83.1 billion2021-05: $82.7 billion2021-06: $85.0 billion2021-07: $79.8 billion2021-08: $84.4 billion2021-09: $84.5 billion2021-10: $86.7 billion2021-11: $87.6 billion2021-12: $87.3 billion2022-01: $90.5 billion2022-02: $89.5 billion2022-03: $89.4 billion2022-04: $90.6 billion2022-05: $91.3 billion2022-06: $91.0 billion2022-07: $92.3 billion2022-08: $93.2 billion2022-09: $93.8 billion2022-10: $93.7 billion2022-11: $92.0 billion2022-12: $94.0 billion2023-01: $97.2 billion2023-02: $97.9 billion2023-03: $97.8 billion2023-04: $100 billion2023-05: $101 billion2023-06: $101 billion2023-07: $104 billion2023-08: $103 billion2023-09: $104 billion2023-10: $105 billion2023-11: $105 billion2023-12: $107 billion2024-01: $105 billion2024-02: $105 billion2024-03: $109 billion2024-04: $107 billion2024-05: $109 billion2024-06: $113 billion2024-07: $111 billion2024-08: $111 billion2024-09: $114 billion2024-10: $114 billion2024-11: $115 billion2024-12: $116 billion2025-01: $113 billion2025-02: $116 billion2025-03: $116 billion2025-04: $117 billion2025-05: $118 billion2025-06: $118 billion2025-07: $120 billion2025-08: $121 billion2025-09: $121 billion2025-10: $122 billion2025-11: $123 billion2025-12: $122 billion2026-01: $125 billion2026-02: $127 billion2026-03: $128 billion2026-04: $131 billion2026-05: $131 billion2026-06: $132 billion2026-07: $130 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-07$130 billion
2026-06$132 billion
2026-05$131 billion
2026-04$131 billion
2026-03$128 billion
2026-02$127 billion
2026-01$125 billion
2025-12$122 billion
2025-11$123 billion
2025-10$122 billion
2025-09$121 billion
2025-08$121 billion
2025-07$120 billion
2025-06$118 billion
2025-05$118 billion
2025-04$117 billion
2025-03$116 billion
2025-02$116 billion
2025-01$113 billion
2024-12$116 billion
2024-11$115 billion
2024-10$114 billion
2024-09$114 billion
2024-08$111 billion
2024-07$111 billion
2024-06$113 billion
2024-05$109 billion
2024-04$107 billion
2024-03$109 billion
2024-02$105 billion
2024-01$105 billion
2023-12$107 billion
2023-11$105 billion
2023-10$105 billion
2023-09$104 billion
2023-08$103 billion
2023-07$104 billion
2023-06$101 billion
2023-05$101 billion
2023-04$100 billion
2023-03$97.8 billion
2023-02$97.9 billion
2023-01$97.2 billion
2022-12$94.0 billion
2022-11$92.0 billion
2022-10$93.7 billion
2022-09$93.8 billion
2022-08$93.2 billion
2022-07$92.3 billion
2022-06$91.0 billion
2022-05$91.3 billion
2022-04$90.6 billion
2022-03$89.4 billion
2022-02$89.5 billion
2022-01$90.5 billion
2021-12$87.3 billion
2021-11$87.6 billion
2021-10$86.7 billion
2021-09$84.5 billion
2021-08$84.4 billion
2021-07$79.8 billion
2021-06$85.0 billion
2021-05$82.7 billion
2021-04$83.1 billion
2021-03$83.2 billion
2021-02$77.9 billion
2021-01$80.5 billion
2020-12$81.0 billion
2020-11$79.9 billion
2020-10$78.8 billion
2020-09$78.3 billion
2020-08$78.9 billion
2020-07$76.7 billion
2020-06$75.8 billion
2020-05$78.4 billion
2020-04$70.7 billion
2020-03$61.5 billion
2020-02$57.5 billion
2020-01$56.8 billion
2019-12$55.7 billion
2019-11$56.1 billion
2019-10$56.2 billion
2019-09$56.0 billion
2019-08$55.5 billion
2019-07$55.1 billion
2019-06$54.8 billion
2019-05$54.2 billion
2019-04$50.8 billion
2019-03$50.4 billion
2019-02$50.6 billion
2019-01$50.1 billion
2018-12$45.4 billion
2018-11$51.9 billion
2018-10$49.4 billion
2018-09$49.4 billion
2018-08$48.8 billion
2018-07$48.5 billion
2018-06$47.8 billion
2018-05$47.6 billion
2018-04$46.8 billion
2018-03$46.7 billion
2018-02$46.0 billion
2018-01$45.4 billion
2017-12$45.9 billion
2017-11$45.3 billion
2017-10$43.2 billion
2017-09$43.5 billion
2017-08$43.1 billion
2017-07$43.0 billion
2017-06$42.7 billion
2017-05$42.2 billion
2017-04$41.7 billion
2017-03$41.3 billion
2017-02$40.7 billion
2017-01$40.5 billion
2016-12$40.2 billion
2016-11$39.5 billion
2016-10$39.1 billion
2016-09$38.8 billion
2016-08$38.4 billion
2016-07$38.0 billion
2016-06$38.0 billion
2016-05$37.4 billion
2016-04$36.9 billion
2016-03$36.6 billion
2016-02$36.3 billion
2016-01$36.1 billion
2015-12$35.6 billion
2015-11$35.3 billion
2015-10$35.1 billion
2015-09$34.8 billion
2015-08$34.4 billion
2015-07$34.3 billion
2015-06$33.5 billion
2015-05$33.5 billion
2015-04$33.4 billion
2015-03$32.9 billion
2015-02$32.8 billion
2015-01$32.5 billion
2014-12$32.4 billion
2014-11$31.9 billion
2014-10$31.9 billion
2014-09$31.3 billion
2014-08$31.1 billion
2014-07$30.8 billion
2014-06$30.9 billion
2014-05$30.1 billion
2014-04$29.9 billion
2014-03$29.6 billion
2014-02$28.9 billion
2014-01$28.2 billion
2013-12$29.0 billion
2013-11$28.4 billion
2013-10$28.1 billion
2013-09$28.4 billion
2013-08$28.3 billion
2013-07$28.1 billion
2013-06$27.8 billion
2013-05$27.9 billion
2013-04$27.7 billion
2013-03$27.8 billion
2013-02$27.9 billion
2013-01$28.2 billion
2012-12$27.9 billion
2012-11$27.9 billion
2012-10$27.3 billion
2012-09$27.3 billion
2012-08$27.2 billion
2012-07$26.8 billion
2012-06$26.5 billion
2012-05$26.4 billion
2012-04$26.0 billion
2012-03$25.9 billion
2012-02$25.9 billion
2012-01$25.4 billion
2011-12$25.4 billion
2011-11$25.2 billion
2011-10$24.9 billion
2011-09$24.2 billion
2011-08$24.1 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: Electronic Shopping and Mail-order Houses

Sales · Annual Retail Trade SurveyLatest $1.06 trillion · 2022
1992: $34.6 billion1993: $40.0 billion1994: $46.2 billion1995: $51.8 billion1996: $60.1 billion1997: $69.0 billion1998: $79.3 billion1999: $93.1 billion2000: $112 billion2001: $113 billion2002: $121 billion2003: $132 billion2004: $152 billion2005: $173 billion2006: $200 billion2007: $221 billion2008: $226 billion2009: $232 billion2010: $260 billion2011: $290 billion2012: $323 billion2013: $340 billion2014: $370 billion2015: $411 billion2016: $459 billion2017: $516 billion2018: $571 billion2019: $639 billion2020: $854 billion2021: $977 billion2022: $1.06 trillion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2022$1.06 trillion
2021$977 billion
2020$854 billion
2019$639 billion
2018$571 billion
2017$516 billion
2016$459 billion
2015$411 billion
2014$370 billion
2013$340 billion
2012$323 billion
2011$290 billion
2010$260 billion
2009$232 billion
2008$226 billion
2007$221 billion
2006$200 billion
2005$173 billion
2004$152 billion
2003$132 billion
2002$121 billion
2001$113 billion
2000$112 billion
1999$93.1 billion
1998$79.3 billion
1997$69.0 billion
1996$60.1 billion
1995$51.8 billion
1994$46.2 billion
1993$40.0 billion
1992$34.6 billion

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Retail Trade Survey · Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars · Agency label: Electronic shopping and mail-order houses

Employment · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 493,562 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 384,9102019-Q2: 394,2392019-Q3: 401,8722019-Q4: 433,3072020-Q1: 403,3352020-Q2: 411,2602020-Q3: 429,9712020-Q4: 472,5472021-Q1: 446,4232021-Q2: 454,0002021-Q3: 465,1592021-Q4: 493,562
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q4493,562
2021-Q3465,159
2021-Q2454,000
2021-Q1446,423
2020-Q4472,547
2020-Q3429,971
2020-Q2411,260
2020-Q1403,335
2019-Q4433,307
2019-Q3401,872
2019-Q2394,239
2019-Q1384,910

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 881,019 · 2023
2017: 534,1342018: 556,5132019: 560,5852020: 662,2512021: 734,0962022: 780,5982023: 881,019
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023881,019
2022780,598
2021734,096
2020662,251
2019560,585
2018556,513
2017534,134

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

Establishments · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 43,487 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 31,0122019-Q2: 31,7172019-Q3: 32,4662019-Q4: 33,0922020-Q1: 33,4282020-Q2: 34,2262020-Q3: 35,7492020-Q4: 37,5622021-Q1: 38,7522021-Q2: 40,4532021-Q3: 42,2362021-Q4: 43,487
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q443,487
2021-Q342,236
2021-Q240,453
2021-Q138,752
2020-Q437,562
2020-Q335,749
2020-Q234,226
2020-Q133,428
2019-Q433,092
2019-Q332,466
2019-Q231,717
2019-Q131,012

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

Establishments · County Business PatternsLatest 54,707 · 2023
2017: 41,4902018: 42,5162019: 43,4652020: 47,9152021: 55,0852022: 55,6332023: 54,707
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
202354,707
202255,633
202155,085
202047,915
201943,465
201842,516
201741,490

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

Total wages in the quarter · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest $13.3 billion · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: $8.1 billion2019-Q2: $8.8 billion2019-Q3: $8.0 billion2019-Q4: $9.2 billion2020-Q1: $8.8 billion2020-Q2: $9.5 billion2020-Q3: $9.1 billion2020-Q4: $12.1 billion2021-Q1: $10.3 billion2021-Q2: $12.1 billion2021-Q3: $10.4 billion2021-Q4: $13.3 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q4$13.3 billion
2021-Q3$10.4 billion
2021-Q2$12.1 billion
2021-Q1$10.3 billion
2020-Q4$12.1 billion
2020-Q3$9.1 billion
2020-Q2$9.5 billion
2020-Q1$8.8 billion
2019-Q4$9.2 billion
2019-Q3$8.0 billion
2019-Q2$8.8 billion
2019-Q1$8.1 billion

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

Annual payroll · County Business PatternsLatest $51.6 billion · 2023
2017: $25.6 billion2018: $28.4 billion2019: $29.1 billion2020: $35.7 billion2021: $43.3 billion2022: $46.5 billion2023: $51.6 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023$51.6 billion
2022$46.5 billion
2021$43.3 billion
2020$35.7 billion
2019$29.1 billion
2018$28.4 billion
2017$25.6 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 Wages493,5622021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
EstablishmentsPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages43,4872021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages$13.3 billion2021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsAnnual Retail Trade Survey$1.06 trillion20221992–2022 · 31 published
Annual payrollCounty Business Patterns$51.6 billion20232017–2023 · 7 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12County Business Patterns881,01920232017–2023 · 7 published
EstablishmentsCounty Business Patterns54,70720232017–2023 · 7 published
Annual payrollEconomic Census$26.2 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12Economic Census571,01020172017–2017 · 1 published
EstablishmentsEconomic Census41,58920172017–2017 · 1 published
FirmsEconomic Census40,12820172017–2017 · 1 published
Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollarsEconomic Census$516 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$129 billion2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published
Sales, seasonally adjustedEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$130 billion2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published

Breakdown

Industries within Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses

NAICSIndustrySizeEmployment
45411Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses$516 billionReceipts · 2017 · Economic Census881,0192023 · 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.