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Size of the US Book Stores industry

NAICS 451211, Book 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)
$10.0 billion
2017 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars
Sales
$660.0 million
2026-07 · Monthly Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Sales
$8.5 billion
2022 · Annual Retail Trade Survey
Employer firms by kind of business, current dollars
Employment
48,997
2023 · County Business Patterns
Paid employees in the pay period including March 12
Establishments
5,629
2023 · County Business Patterns
Firms
2,615
2017 · Economic Census

Over time

How it has changed

Sales · Monthly Retail Trade SurveyLatest $660.0 million · 2026-07
2011-08: $2.1 billion2011-09: $1.3 billion2011-10: $728.0 million2011-11: $773.0 million2011-12: $1.4 billion2012-01: $1.7 billion2012-02: $796.0 million2012-03: $733.0 million2012-04: $719.0 million2012-05: $860.0 million2012-06: $812.0 million2012-07: $759.0 million2012-08: $1.8 billion2012-09: $1.1 billion2012-10: $692.0 million2012-11: $728.0 million2012-12: $1.3 billion2013-01: $1.6 billion2013-02: $714.0 million2013-03: $680.0 million2013-04: $640.0 million2013-05: $790.0 million2013-06: $697.0 million2013-07: $679.0 million2013-08: $1.5 billion2013-09: $1.1 billion2013-10: $693.0 million2013-11: $715.0 million2013-12: $1.3 billion2014-01: $1.4 billion2014-02: $699.0 million2014-03: $655.0 million2014-04: $654.0 million2014-05: $759.0 million2014-06: $671.0 million2014-07: $675.0 million2014-08: $1.6 billion2014-09: $1.0 billion2014-10: $698.0 million2014-11: $700.0 million2014-12: $1.3 billion2015-01: $1.4 billion2015-02: $661.0 million2015-03: $631.0 million2015-04: $626.0 million2015-05: $722.0 million2015-06: $655.0 million2015-07: $664.0 million2015-08: $1.5 billion2015-09: $1.0 billion2015-10: $686.0 million2015-11: $691.0 million2015-12: $1.3 billion2016-01: $1.4 billion2016-02: $654.0 million2016-03: $648.0 million2016-04: $639.0 million2016-05: $705.0 million2016-06: $645.0 million2016-07: $623.0 million2016-08: $1.4 billion2016-09: $993.0 million2016-10: $661.0 million2016-11: $690.0 million2016-12: $1.2 billion2017-01: $1.3 billion2017-02: $653.0 million2017-03: $671.0 million2017-04: $693.0 million2017-05: $745.0 million2017-06: $666.0 million2017-07: $629.0 million2017-08: $1.3 billion2017-09: $943.0 million2017-10: $629.0 million2017-11: $636.0 million2017-12: $1.1 billion2018-01: $1.2 billion2018-02: $611.0 million2018-03: $628.0 million2018-04: $601.0 million2018-05: $665.0 million2018-06: $608.0 million2018-07: $581.0 million2018-08: $1.2 billion2018-09: $834.0 million2018-10: $614.0 million2018-11: $639.0 million2018-12: $1.1 billion2019-01: $972.0 million2019-02: $553.0 million2019-03: $571.0 million2019-04: $615.0 million2019-05: $659.0 million2019-06: $581.0 million2019-07: $559.0 million2019-08: $1.1 billion2019-09: $824.0 million2019-10: $613.0 million2019-11: $603.0 million2019-12: $1.0 billion2020-01: $931.0 million2020-02: $553.0 million2020-03: $377.0 million2020-04: $164.0 million2020-05: $253.0 million2020-06: $355.0 million2020-07: $399.0 million2020-08: $702.0 million2020-09: $562.0 million2020-10: $409.0 million2020-11: $444.0 million2020-12: $803.0 million2021-01: $728.0 million2021-02: $400.0 million2021-03: $474.0 million2021-04: $442.0 million2021-05: $542.0 million2021-06: $601.0 million2021-07: $607.0 million2021-08: $982.0 million2021-09: $749.0 million2021-10: $589.0 million2021-11: $596.0 million2021-12: $1.0 billion2022-01: $772.0 million2022-02: $492.0 million2022-03: $511.0 million2022-04: $559.0 million2022-05: $585.0 million2022-06: $534.0 million2022-07: $567.0 million2022-08: $1.0 billion2022-09: $761.0 million2022-10: $559.0 million2022-11: $588.0 million2022-12: $1.0 billion2023-01: $875.0 million2023-02: $533.0 million2023-03: $565.0 million2023-04: $552.0 million2023-05: $619.0 million2023-06: $556.0 million2023-07: $560.0 million2023-08: $835.0 million2023-09: $691.0 million2023-10: $531.0 million2023-11: $567.0 million2023-12: $1.0 billion2024-01: $763.0 million2024-02: $532.0 million2024-03: $567.0 million2024-04: $567.0 million2024-05: $602.0 million2024-06: $563.0 million2024-07: $558.0 million2024-08: $837.0 million2024-09: $734.0 million2024-10: $560.0 million2024-11: $574.0 million2024-12: $1.0 billion2025-01: $808.0 million2025-02: $550.0 million2025-03: $580.0 million2025-04: $589.0 million2025-05: $652.0 million2025-06: $566.0 million2025-07: $612.0 million2025-08: $791.0 million2025-09: $680.0 million2025-10: $614.0 million2025-11: $622.0 million2025-12: $1.1 billion2026-01: $838.0 million2026-02: $582.0 million2026-03: $624.0 million2026-04: $624.0 million2026-05: $705.0 million2026-06: $616.0 million2026-07: $660.0 million
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-07$660.0 million
2026-06$616.0 million
2026-05$705.0 million
2026-04$624.0 million
2026-03$624.0 million
2026-02$582.0 million
2026-01$838.0 million
2025-12$1.1 billion
2025-11$622.0 million
2025-10$614.0 million
2025-09$680.0 million
2025-08$791.0 million
2025-07$612.0 million
2025-06$566.0 million
2025-05$652.0 million
2025-04$589.0 million
2025-03$580.0 million
2025-02$550.0 million
2025-01$808.0 million
2024-12$1.0 billion
2024-11$574.0 million
2024-10$560.0 million
2024-09$734.0 million
2024-08$837.0 million
2024-07$558.0 million
2024-06$563.0 million
2024-05$602.0 million
2024-04$567.0 million
2024-03$567.0 million
2024-02$532.0 million
2024-01$763.0 million
2023-12$1.0 billion
2023-11$567.0 million
2023-10$531.0 million
2023-09$691.0 million
2023-08$835.0 million
2023-07$560.0 million
2023-06$556.0 million
2023-05$619.0 million
2023-04$552.0 million
2023-03$565.0 million
2023-02$533.0 million
2023-01$875.0 million
2022-12$1.0 billion
2022-11$588.0 million
2022-10$559.0 million
2022-09$761.0 million
2022-08$1.0 billion
2022-07$567.0 million
2022-06$534.0 million
2022-05$585.0 million
2022-04$559.0 million
2022-03$511.0 million
2022-02$492.0 million
2022-01$772.0 million
2021-12$1.0 billion
2021-11$596.0 million
2021-10$589.0 million
2021-09$749.0 million
2021-08$982.0 million
2021-07$607.0 million
2021-06$601.0 million
2021-05$542.0 million
2021-04$442.0 million
2021-03$474.0 million
2021-02$400.0 million
2021-01$728.0 million
2020-12$803.0 million
2020-11$444.0 million
2020-10$409.0 million
2020-09$562.0 million
2020-08$702.0 million
2020-07$399.0 million
2020-06$355.0 million
2020-05$253.0 million
2020-04$164.0 million
2020-03$377.0 million
2020-02$553.0 million
2020-01$931.0 million
2019-12$1.0 billion
2019-11$603.0 million
2019-10$613.0 million
2019-09$824.0 million
2019-08$1.1 billion
2019-07$559.0 million
2019-06$581.0 million
2019-05$659.0 million
2019-04$615.0 million
2019-03$571.0 million
2019-02$553.0 million
2019-01$972.0 million
2018-12$1.1 billion
2018-11$639.0 million
2018-10$614.0 million
2018-09$834.0 million
2018-08$1.2 billion
2018-07$581.0 million
2018-06$608.0 million
2018-05$665.0 million
2018-04$601.0 million
2018-03$628.0 million
2018-02$611.0 million
2018-01$1.2 billion
2017-12$1.1 billion
2017-11$636.0 million
2017-10$629.0 million
2017-09$943.0 million
2017-08$1.3 billion
2017-07$629.0 million
2017-06$666.0 million
2017-05$745.0 million
2017-04$693.0 million
2017-03$671.0 million
2017-02$653.0 million
2017-01$1.3 billion
2016-12$1.2 billion
2016-11$690.0 million
2016-10$661.0 million
2016-09$993.0 million
2016-08$1.4 billion
2016-07$623.0 million
2016-06$645.0 million
2016-05$705.0 million
2016-04$639.0 million
2016-03$648.0 million
2016-02$654.0 million
2016-01$1.4 billion
2015-12$1.3 billion
2015-11$691.0 million
2015-10$686.0 million
2015-09$1.0 billion
2015-08$1.5 billion
2015-07$664.0 million
2015-06$655.0 million
2015-05$722.0 million
2015-04$626.0 million
2015-03$631.0 million
2015-02$661.0 million
2015-01$1.4 billion
2014-12$1.3 billion
2014-11$700.0 million
2014-10$698.0 million
2014-09$1.0 billion
2014-08$1.6 billion
2014-07$675.0 million
2014-06$671.0 million
2014-05$759.0 million
2014-04$654.0 million
2014-03$655.0 million
2014-02$699.0 million
2014-01$1.4 billion
2013-12$1.3 billion
2013-11$715.0 million
2013-10$693.0 million
2013-09$1.1 billion
2013-08$1.5 billion
2013-07$679.0 million
2013-06$697.0 million
2013-05$790.0 million
2013-04$640.0 million
2013-03$680.0 million
2013-02$714.0 million
2013-01$1.6 billion
2012-12$1.3 billion
2012-11$728.0 million
2012-10$692.0 million
2012-09$1.1 billion
2012-08$1.8 billion
2012-07$759.0 million
2012-06$812.0 million
2012-05$860.0 million
2012-04$719.0 million
2012-03$733.0 million
2012-02$796.0 million
2012-01$1.7 billion
2011-12$1.4 billion
2011-11$773.0 million
2011-10$728.0 million
2011-09$1.3 billion
2011-08$2.1 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: Book Stores

Sales · Annual Retail Trade SurveyLatest $8.5 billion · 2022
1992: $8.0 billion1993: $8.8 billion1994: $9.8 billion1995: $10.8 billion1996: $11.5 billion1997: $12.4 billion1998: $12.9 billion1999: $13.8 billion2000: $14.5 billion2001: $14.7 billion2002: $15.1 billion2003: $15.8 billion2004: $16.5 billion2005: $16.6 billion2006: $16.6 billion2007: $16.8 billion2008: $16.4 billion2009: $15.4 billion2010: $14.9 billion2011: $13.3 billion2012: $11.9 billion2013: $11.1 billion2014: $10.9 billion2015: $10.5 billion2016: $10.2 billion2017: $10.0 billion2018: $9.3 billion2019: $8.9 billion2020: $6.3 billion2021: $8.2 billion2022: $8.5 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2022$8.5 billion
2021$8.2 billion
2020$6.3 billion
2019$8.9 billion
2018$9.3 billion
2017$10.0 billion
2016$10.2 billion
2015$10.5 billion
2014$10.9 billion
2013$11.1 billion
2012$11.9 billion
2011$13.3 billion
2010$14.9 billion
2009$15.4 billion
2008$16.4 billion
2007$16.8 billion
2006$16.6 billion
2005$16.6 billion
2004$16.5 billion
2003$15.8 billion
2002$15.1 billion
2001$14.7 billion
2000$14.5 billion
1999$13.8 billion
1998$12.9 billion
1997$12.4 billion
1996$11.5 billion
1995$10.8 billion
1994$9.8 billion
1993$8.8 billion
1992$8.0 billion

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

Employment · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 64,550 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 69,5932019-Q2: 64,1622019-Q3: 74,3252019-Q4: 75,7012020-Q1: 66,3192020-Q2: 33,6982020-Q3: 47,9092020-Q4: 54,0732021-Q1: 51,0122021-Q2: 51,4302021-Q3: 56,8362021-Q4: 64,550
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q464,550
2021-Q356,836
2021-Q251,430
2021-Q151,012
2020-Q454,073
2020-Q347,909
2020-Q233,698
2020-Q166,319
2019-Q475,701
2019-Q374,325
2019-Q264,162
2019-Q169,593

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 48,997 · 2023
2017: 78,9532018: 66,7232019: 61,0682020: 59,5472021: 44,0722022: 48,0572023: 48,997
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
202348,997
202248,057
202144,072
202059,547
201961,068
201866,723
201778,953

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

Establishments · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 6,148 · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: 6,3102019-Q2: 6,3272019-Q3: 6,3382019-Q4: 6,3342020-Q1: 6,2402020-Q2: 6,2112020-Q3: 6,1732020-Q4: 6,1862021-Q1: 6,1272021-Q2: 6,1262021-Q3: 6,1402021-Q4: 6,148
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q46,148
2021-Q36,140
2021-Q26,126
2021-Q16,127
2020-Q46,186
2020-Q36,173
2020-Q26,211
2020-Q16,240
2019-Q46,334
2019-Q36,338
2019-Q26,327
2019-Q16,310

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

Establishments · County Business PatternsLatest 5,629 · 2023
2017: 6,4962018: 6,1432019: 6,0452020: 5,7332021: 5,5912022: 5,6832023: 5,629
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
20235,629
20225,683
20215,591
20205,733
20196,045
20186,143
20176,496

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

Total wages in the quarter · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest $396.7 million · 2021-Q4
2019-Q1: $343.5 million2019-Q2: $340.9 million2019-Q3: $355.4 million2019-Q4: $354.6 million2020-Q1: $344.8 million2020-Q2: $214.5 million2020-Q3: $278.2 million2020-Q4: $340.3 million2021-Q1: $290.8 million2021-Q2: $314.1 million2021-Q3: $343.0 million2021-Q4: $396.7 million
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2021-Q4$396.7 million
2021-Q3$343.0 million
2021-Q2$314.1 million
2021-Q1$290.8 million
2020-Q4$340.3 million
2020-Q3$278.2 million
2020-Q2$214.5 million
2020-Q1$344.8 million
2019-Q4$354.6 million
2019-Q3$355.4 million
2019-Q2$340.9 million
2019-Q1$343.5 million

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

Annual payroll · County Business PatternsLatest $1.1 billion · 2023
2017: $1.2 billion2018: $1.2 billion2019: $1.1 billion2020: $849.2 million2021: $941.9 million2022: $1.1 billion2023: $1.1 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023$1.1 billion
2022$1.1 billion
2021$941.9 million
2020$849.2 million
2019$1.1 billion
2018$1.2 billion
2017$1.2 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 Wages64,5502021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
EstablishmentsPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages6,1482021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages$396.7 million2021-Q42019-Q1–2021-Q4 · 12 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsAnnual Retail Trade Survey$8.5 billion20221992–2022 · 31 published
Annual payrollCounty Business Patterns$1.1 billion20232017–2023 · 7 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12County Business Patterns48,99720232017–2023 · 7 published
EstablishmentsCounty Business Patterns5,62920232017–2023 · 7 published
Annual payrollEconomic Census$1.3 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12Economic Census85,00620172017–2017 · 1 published
EstablishmentsEconomic Census6,53120172017–2017 · 1 published
FirmsEconomic Census2,61520172017–2017 · 1 published
Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollarsEconomic Census$10.0 billion20172017–2017 · 1 published
SalesEmployer firms by kind of business, current dollarsMonthly Retail Trade Survey$660.0 million2026-071992-01–2026-07 · 415 published

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.