For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, July 29, 2021 USDL-21-1389

Technical Information: (202) 691-5606 • productivity@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/lpc

Media Contact: (202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS BY INDUSTRY

WHOLESALE TRADE AND RETAIL TRADE INDUSTRIES – 2020

Labor productivity rose 7.7 percent in retail trade and 3.6 percent in wholesale trade in 2020, the U.S. 

Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Unit labor costs, which reflect the total labor costs required 

to produce a unit of output, rose in wholesale trade and fell in retail trade. 

Annual productivity growth for retail trade in 2020 was the highest since measurement began in 1987. In 

2020 for retail trade and wholesale trade, hours worked fell at the fastest rates since 2009. Output 

increased at an accelerating rate for retail trade in 2020 while it decreased for the first time since 2010

for wholesale trade. 

Chart 1. Largest changes in productivity in NAICS 4-digit wholesale and retail trade industries, 2020

18.3

35.4

24.9

58.1

26.7

-2.3

-2.7

-5.0

-4.3

-4.7

-4.4

-35

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

-35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Hours Worked Percent Change

Beer, wine, and 

liquor stores

Other motor vehicle 

dealers

Jewelry, luggage, 

and leather goods 

stores Florists

Book stores and 

news dealers

Vending machine 

operators

Metal and

mineral 

merchant 

wholesalers

Electronic 

markets and 

agents and 

brokers

Clothing 

stores

Gasoline 

stations

Department 

stores

Building material and 

supplies dealers

Output Percent Change

25.9

Note: Bubble size represents industry employment. Value 

in the bubble indicates percent change in labor 

productivity.
Chart 1 shows the percent changes in output and hours worked for industries with the largest increases 

and decreases in productivity in 2020. Change in productivity is approximately equal to the change in 

output minus the change in hours worked. Industries above the diagonal line experienced growth in 

productivity while industries below the diagonal line experienced declines. 

Among the six NAICS 4-digit industries with the highest productivity growth, five reported growth in 

output while all six showed declines in hours worked. Productivity growth was greatest in book stores 

and news dealers (+58.1 percent) where there was a moderate growth in output and a substantial decline 

in hours worked. All six industries were in the bottom third of trade employment. 

Of the six NAICS 4-digit industries with the largest declines in productivity, hours worked, and output 

decreased in all but one, building material and supplies dealers. The two industries with the greatest 

decreases in productivity were gasoline stations (-5.0 percent) and wholesale electronic markets and 

agents and brokers (-4.7 percent). Five of these six industries were in the top third of trade employment. 

Labor Productivity Rose in Majority of Industries in 2020 

Productivity increased in 11 of the 15 NAICS 3-digit industries studied in 2020. (See table 1.) Seven

industries had productivity gains of at least 7.0 percent; among these, the largest changes occurred in 

nonstore retailers (+19.6 percent) and sports, hobby, music instrument, and book stores (+19.5 percent). 

Nonstore retailers also had the largest increase in output (+22.6 percent). Of the four industries with 

productivity declines, gasoline stations experienced the largest drop (-5.0 percent). (See chart 2). 

Chart 2. Productivity change in NAICS 3-digit wholesale and retail trade industries, 2020

-5.0

-4.7

-2.0

-0.7

1.6

2.2

2.9

3.6

7.0

8.3

8.8

12.2

13.1

19.5

19.6

-12 -8 -4 0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28

Gasoline stations

Electronic markets and agents and brokers

Electronics and appliance stores

Building material and garden supply stores

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods

General merchandise stores

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods

Food and beverage stores

Miscellaneous store retailers

Health and personal care stores

Sports, hobby, music instrument, book stores

Nonstore retailers

Percent Change

-0.5

-3.6

-11.0

12.3

-4.9

1.2

-7.0

-22.9

-7.6

-8.3

0.0

-11.1

-10.6

-9.6

2.5

-5.4

-8.1

-12.9

11.5

-3.3

3.5

-4.3

-20.1

-1.1

-0.7

8.8

-0.3

1.2

8.0

22.6

-32 -24 -16 -8 0 8 16 24 32

Percent Change

Productivity Output Hours

- 2 -
In wholesale trade, productivity rose 3.6 percent as output fell 2.6 percent and hours worked decreased 

6.0 percent. 

• Productivity rose in both durable goods wholesalers and nondurable goods wholesalers at 1.6

percent and 8.3 percent, respectively.

• Productivity increased in 15 of the 19 NAICS 4-digit wholesale trade industries while output

rose in 7 industries and hours worked fell in 18.

• The highest increase in productivity occurred in paper and paper product merchant wholesalers

(+17.7 percent) because hours worked declined at a much faster rate (-15.6 percent) than output

(-0.7 percent).

In retail trade, productivity increased by 7.7 percent as output grew 3.9 percent and hours worked fell 

3.6 percent.

• Productivity increased in 20 of the 27 NAICS 4-digit retail trade industries while output grew in

13 industries and hours worked fell in 22.

• The largest productivity increase (+58.1 percent) occurred in book stores and news dealers as

hours fell 32.8 percent while output increased 6.2 percent.

• In the largest retail employer, grocery stores, productivity increased 7.6 percent as output

increased 8.5 percent and hours worked rose by 0.8 percent.

Unit Labor Costs Decline in 37 Percent of NAICS 4-Digit Industries in 2020 

When productivity gains outpace hourly compensation, unit labor costs decline.

• Unit labor costs fell in 4 out of 15 NAICS 3-digit wholesale and retail trade industries in 2020.

All unit labor cost declines occurred in industries where productivity rose. (See chart 3).

• Unit labor costs declined in 5 of 19 NAICS 4-digit wholesale trade industries. In retail trade, 12

of 27 NAICS 4-digit industries had declines in unit labor costs.

• Hourly compensation, defined as labor compensation per hour worked, rose in 43 of the 46

NAICS 4-digit industries.

- 3 -
Chart 3. Unit labor costs, productivity, and hourly compensation in NAICS 3-digit wholesale and retail 

trade industries, 2020

14.0

11.9

8.5

5.4

3.7

3.1

2.1

1.6

1.6

1.5

0.6

-1.7

-4.0

-9.6

-11.3

-16 -8 0 8 16 24

Electronics and appliance stores

Gasoline stations

Electronic markets and agents and brokers

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Building material and garden supply stores

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods

Food and beverage stores

General merchandise stores

Health and personal care stores

Miscellaneous store retailers

Sports, hobby, music instrument, book stores

Nonstore retailers

Percent Change

Unit Labor Costs Productivity Hourly Compensation

Long-term Labor Productivity Increases for All but One Industry

From 1987 to 2020, labor productivity increased at an average annual rate of 2.8 percent in wholesale 

trade and 3.0 percent in retail trade. (See table 2.)

• Among the NAICS 4-digit industries, productivity rose from 1987 to 2020 in 45 industries and 

declined in only 1 industry, metal and mineral merchant wholesalers. 

• Of the 45 NAICS 4-digit industries with increasing productivity growth, 38 experienced rising 

output while 20 had an increase in hours worked. 

• Median productivity among NAICS 4-digit industries grew at an average annual rate of 2.2 

percent.

• The 2007 to 2020 productivity growth in durable wholesale, nondurable wholesale, and retail 

trade industries was slower than during the 1987-2007 period. (See chart 4). 

• The number of NAICS 4-digit industries with increasing productivity dropped from 43 out of 46 

during the 1987-2007 period to 37 during the 2007-2020 period. 

- 4 -
Long-term Trends in Unit Labor Costs Vary by Sector

From 1987 to 2020, unit labor costs declined slightly at an average annual rate of 0.1 percent in 

wholesale durable goods, increased at an average annual rate of 2.7 percent in wholesale nondurable 

goods, and were unchanged in retail trade. (See table 2.)

• Among the NAICS 4-digit industries, unit labor costs rose in 16 out of 19 wholesale trade and 13

out of 27 retail trade industries from 1987 to 2020.

• From 2007 to 2020, unit labor costs rose in 30 out of 46 industries. All industries with declines in

unit labor costs experienced increases in productivity.

• During the 1987 to 2007 period, electronics and appliance stores experienced the largest declines

in unit labor costs and the largest productivity gains among the NAICS 3-digit industries.

Although this industry continued to experience the largest declines in unit labor costs in the 2007

to 2020 period, nonstore retailers took the lead in productivity gains.

Chart 4. Long-term changes in productivity and unit labor costs for wholesale trade industry groups and 

retail trade industry 

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017

Index 

(1987=100)

Wholesale Durable Goods Retail Trade

Wholesale Nondurable Goods

4.0

5.7

1.3 1.5 1.4 0.9

3.0 3.3

2.6

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

1987-2020 1987-2007 2007-2020

Average Annual 

Percent Change

Wholesale Durable Goods Wholesale Nondurable Goods Retail Trade

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1987 1992 1997 2002 2007 2012 2017

Index 

(1987=100)

Wholesale Durable Goods

Retail Trade

Wholesale Nondurable Goods

-0.1 -1.1

1.3

2.7 3.1

2.1

0.0 0.0 0.0

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

1987-2020 1987-2007 2007-2020

Average Annual 

Percent Change

Wholesale Durable Goods Wholesale Nondurable Goods Retail Trade

Labor Productivity

Unit Labor Costs

- 5 -
Additional Information

The trade measures in this release incorporate 2017 Economic Census data and benchmark data from the 

Census Bureau’s Annual Wholesale Trade Report (January 2021), Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey 

(May 2021), Annual Retail Trade Survey (January 2021), and Annual Revision of the Monthly Retail 

and Food Services: Sales and Inventories (April 2021). Accordingly, the labor productivity and output 

series for all industries have been revised for 2019 and earlier years. Additionally, the unit labor cost 

measures incorporate preliminary data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (June 

2021). 

The COVID-19 pandemic did not impact the availability of source data used to construct productivity 

measures in this release. Data source providers continued to collect and publish high quality industry 

data for 2020. Additional information can be found on the BLS website at www.bls.gov/covid19/effectsof-covid-19-pandemic-on-productivity-and-costs-statistics.htm#Industry-Productivity.

More information about the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) can be found at 

www.census.gov/naics/. 

Access the productivity data dashboard at www.bls.gov/lpc/lpc_by_industry_dashboard.xlsx for 

• Additional industries and sectors

• Detailed data series: indexes of productivity and related measures; rates of change; and levels of

industry employment, hours worked, nominal value of production, and labor compensation

• Additional years and long-term data

Subscribe to productivity news releases on the BLS website at 

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Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice 

phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339. 

- 6 -
Technical Note

Labor Productivity: Labor productivity describes the relationship between real output and the labor 

hours involved in its production. These measures show the changes from period to period in the amount 

of goods and services produced per hour worked. Although the labor productivity measures relate output 

in an industry to hours worked of all persons in that industry, they do not measure the specific 

contribution of labor to growth in output. Rather, they reflect the joint effects of many influences, 

including: changes in technology; capital investment; utilization of capacity, energy, and materials; the 

use of purchased services inputs, including contract employment services; the organization of 

production; the characteristics and effort of the workforce; and managerial skill. 

Unit Labor Costs: Unit labor costs represent the cost of labor required to produce one unit of output. 

The unit labor cost indexes are computed by dividing an index of nominal industry labor compensation 

by an index of real industry output. Unit labor costs also describe the relationship between compensation 

per hour worked (hourly compensation) and real output per hour worked (labor productivity). When 

hourly compensation growth outpaces productivity, unit labor costs increase. Alternatively, when 

productivity growth exceeds hourly compensation, unit labor costs decrease. 

Output: Industry output is measured as an annual-weighted index of the changes in the various products 

(in real terms) provided for sale outside the industry. Real industry output for data in this release is 

derived by deflating nominal sales or values of production using price indexes. Industry output measures 

are constructed primarily using data from the economic censuses and annual surveys of the U.S. Census 

Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce, together with information on price changes from BLS. 

Labor Hours: Labor hours are measured as annual hours worked by all employed persons in an 

industry. Data on industry employment and hours come primarily from the BLS Current Employment 

Statistics (CES) survey and Current Population Survey (CPS). CES data on the number of total and 

production worker jobs held by wage and salary workers in nonfarm establishments are supplemented 

with CPS data on self-employed and unpaid family workers to estimate industry employment. Hours 

worked estimates are derived using CES and CPS employment, CES data on the average weekly hours 

paid of production workers, CPS data on hours of nonproduction, self-employed, and unpaid family 

workers, and ratios of hours worked to hours paid based on data from the National Compensation 

Survey (NCS). For some industries, employment and hours data are supplemented or further 

disaggregated using data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), the 

Census Bureau, or other sources. Hours worked are estimated separately for different types of workers 

and then are directly aggregated; no adjustments for labor composition are made.

Labor Compensation: Labor compensation, defined as payroll plus supplemental payments, is a 

measure of the cost to the employer of securing the services of labor. Payroll includes salaries, wages, 

commissions, dismissal pay, bonuses, vacation and sick leave pay, and compensation in kind. 

Supplemental payments include both legally required expenditures and payments for voluntary 

programs. The legally required portion consists primarily of federal old age and survivors’ insurance, 

unemployment compensation, and workers’ compensation. Payments for voluntary programs include all 

programs not specifically required by legislation, such as the employer portion of private health 

insurance and pension plans. Industry compensation measures are constructed primarily using data from 

the BLS QCEW and the economic censuses of the Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce.

- 7 -
Table 1. Recent labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data

Industry

2017

NAICS

code

2020

Employment

(thousands)

Percent change, 2019-2020

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Wholesale Trade

Wholesale trade................................................. 42 5,769.9 3.6 3.1 -2.6 -6.0 0.4 6.9

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods...................... 423 3,144.4 1.6 3.7 -3.3 -4.9 0.2 5.4

Motor vehicles and parts.................................. 4231 350.7 2.3 6.2 -7.0 -9.1 -1.2 8.7

Furniture and furnishings.................................. 4232 108.9 4.5 1.8 -7.6 -11.6 -5.9 6.4

Lumber and construction supplies....................... 4233 247.2 -1.8 0.8 -2.2 -0.4 -1.4 -1.0

Commercial equipment.................................... 4234 697.9 1.4 3.4 1.4 0.0 4.9 4.9

Metals and minerals....................................... 4235 126.4 -4.4 10.2 -15.7 -11.9 -7.2 5.3

Appliances and electric goods............................ 4236 342.8 6.3 -2.5 -0.9 -6.7 -3.3 3.6

Hardware and plumbing................................... 4237 280.0 7.1 -1.5 4.0 -3.0 2.4 5.6

Machinery and supplies................................... 4238 694.2 2.4 1.8 -3.3 -5.5 -1.5 4.2

Miscellaneous durable goods............................. 4239 296.3 6.0 1.7 -1.0 -6.6 0.6 7.8

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods................. 424 2,129.9 8.3 1.6 -0.7 -8.3 0.9 10.1

Paper and paper products................................ 4241 123.1 17.7 -4.3 -0.7 -15.6 -4.9 12.6

Druggists’ goods........................................... 4242 233.3 13.0 2.3 5.2 -6.9 7.6 15.6

Apparel and piece goods.................................. 4243 131.0 -0.4 10.2 -20.6 -20.3 -12.5 9.8

Grocery and related products............................. 4244 781.3 5.8 4.0 -2.5 -7.8 1.4 10.0

Farm product raw materials............................... 4245 71.7 4.6 0.2 3.5 -1.1 3.7 4.8

Chemicals................................................... 4246 143.5 2.3 5.9 -7.4 -9.5 -2.0 8.3

Petroleum................................................... 4247 104.5 8.0 -4.2 1.3 -6.2 -2.9 3.5

Alcoholic beverages....................................... 4248 201.3 14.3 -4.0 5.9 -7.4 1.7 9.8

Miscellaneous nondurable goods........................ 4249 340.2 5.2 2.0 0.2 -4.7 2.2 7.3

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............... 425 495.6 -4.7 8.5 -8.1 -3.6 -0.3 3.4

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............. 4251 495.6 -4.7 8.5 -8.1 -3.6 -0.3 3.4

Retail Trade

Retail trade....................................................... 44-45 15,577.6 7.7 -0.7 3.9 -3.6 3.1 6.9

Motor vehicle and parts dealers............................. 441 1,960.1 7.0 1.6 -1.1 -7.6 0.5 8.7

Automobile dealers........................................ 4411 1,232.6 8.2 2.1 -2.5 -9.9 -0.5 10.5

Other motor vehicle dealers.............................. 4412 160.9 25.9 -5.9 16.9 -7.1 10.1 18.5

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores................. 4413 566.6 1.8 0.6 -0.5 -2.3 0.1 2.5

Furniture and home furnishings stores..................... 442 445.6 2.9 5.4 -4.3 -7.0 0.9 8.4

Furniture stores............................................ 4421 214.5 7.1 2.8 -2.5 -9.0 0.2 10.1

Home furnishings stores.................................. 4422 231.1 -1.6 8.4 -6.3 -4.7 1.6 6.6

Electronics and appliance stores............................ 443 439.6 -2.0 14.0 -12.9 -11.0 -0.7 11.7

Electronics and appliance stores......................... 4431 439.6 -2.0 14.0 -12.9 -11.0 -0.7 11.7

Building material and garden supply stores................ 444 1,406.2 -0.7 2.1 11.5 12.3 13.8 1.3

Building material and supplies dealers.................. 4441 1,228.3 -2.3 3.2 10.8 13.4 14.3 0.8

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores. . . . .. 4442 177.9 11.0 -5.5 16.8 5.2 10.3 4.9

Food and beverage stores................................... 445 3,164.8 8.8 1.5 8.8 0.0 10.5 10.5

Grocery stores.............................................. 4451 2,770.8 7.6 2.8 8.5 0.8 11.6 10.6

Specialty food stores...................................... 4452 217.7 9.0 0.9 -0.9 -9.1 0.0 10.0

Beer, wine and liquor stores.............................. 4453 176.3 18.3 -7.7 16.1 -1.8 7.2 9.2

Health and personal care stores............................ 446 990.0 13.1 -1.7 1.2 -10.6 -0.5 11.3

Health and personal care stores......................... 4461 990.0 13.1 -1.7 1.2 -10.6 -0.5 11.3

Gasoline stations............................................. 447 940.9 -5.0 11.9 -5.4 -0.5 5.9 6.3

Gasoline stations........................................... 4471 940.9 -5.0 11.9 -5.4 -0.5 5.9 6.3

Clothing and clothing accessories stores.................. 448 1,045.4 3.6 3.1 -20.1 -22.9 -17.7 6.8

Clothing stores............................................. 4481 762.1 -4.3 7.5 -24.7 -21.3 -19.0 2.9

Shoe stores................................................. 4482 150.0 12.1 9.6 -19.9 -28.5 -12.2 22.8

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores............. 4483 133.3 35.4 -19.5 3.6 -23.5 -16.6 9.0

Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores. . . . . . . . . .. 451 505.3 19.5 -9.6 8.0 -9.6 -2.3 8.1

Sporting goods and musical instrument stores. . . . . . . .. 4511 450.4 16.0 -7.0 8.3 -6.6 0.7 7.8

- 8 -
Table 1. Recent labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data — Continued

Industry

2017

NAICS

code

2020

Employment

(thousands)

Percent change, 2019-2020

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Book stores and news dealers........................... 4512 54.9 58.1 -26.8 6.2 -32.8 -22.3 15.7

General merchandise stores................................ 452 3,039.6 2.2 0.6 3.5 1.2 4.2 2.9

Department stores......................................... 4522 948.6 -2.7 0.7 -12.4 -10.0 -11.8 -2.0

Other general merchandise stores....................... 4523 2,091.0 0.5 4.3 7.1 6.5 11.7 4.9

Miscellaneous store retailers................................ 453 880.5 12.2 -4.0 -0.3 -11.1 -4.3 7.7

Florists...................................................... 4531 67.4 24.9 -15.3 11.2 -11.0 -5.9 5.7

Office supplies, stationery and gift stores............... 4532 204.1 -0.3 6.2 -21.9 -21.6 -17.0 5.9

Used merchandise stores................................. 4533 188.4 3.4 7.0 -13.7 -16.5 -7.7 10.6

Other miscellaneous store retailers...................... 4539 420.6 13.7 -5.8 9.8 -3.4 3.5 7.1

Nonstore retailers............................................. 454 759.6 19.6 -11.3 22.6 2.5 8.8 6.1

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses............. 4541 527.0 12.9 -9.8 26.2 11.7 13.8 1.8

Vending machine operators............................... 4542 37.2 26.7 -22.4 -10.1 -29.1 -30.2 -1.6

Direct selling establishments.............................. 4543 195.4 9.9 -1.9 -2.2 -11.0 -4.0 7.9

- 9 -
Table 2. Long run labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data

Industry

2017

NAICS

code

2020

Employment

(thousands)

Average annual percent change, 1987-2020

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Wholesale Trade

Wholesale trade................................................. 42 5,769.9 2.8 1.0 2.9 0.1 3.9 3.8

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods...................... 423 3,144.4 4.0 -0.1 4.1 0.1 3.9 3.8

Motor vehicles and parts.................................. 4231 350.7 3.1 0.6 2.8 -0.3 3.5 3.8

Furniture and furnishings.................................. 4232 108.9 1.7 2.2 1.4 -0.3 3.6 4.0

Lumber and construction supplies....................... 4233 247.2 0.6 1.9 1.3 0.7 3.3 2.5

Commercial equipment.................................... 4234 697.9 10.9 -6.1 11.1 0.2 4.3 4.1

Metals and minerals....................................... 4235 126.4 -0.4 3.9 -0.5 -0.1 3.4 3.5

Appliances and electric goods............................ 4236 342.8 6.6 -2.3 6.2 -0.4 3.8 4.2

Hardware and plumbing................................... 4237 280.0 1.7 1.9 2.5 0.8 4.4 3.6

Machinery and supplies................................... 4238 694.2 1.7 2.1 1.7 -0.1 3.8 3.9

Miscellaneous durable goods............................. 4239 296.3 1.2 2.5 1.5 0.2 4.0 3.8

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods................. 424 2,129.9 1.3 2.7 1.2 -0.1 4.0 4.0

Paper and paper products................................ 4241 123.1 1.5 2.0 0.4 -1.1 2.4 3.6

Druggists’ goods........................................... 4242 233.3 2.0 4.1 2.9 0.9 7.1 6.2

Apparel and piece goods.................................. 4243 131.0 1.7 1.8 0.6 -1.1 2.5 3.6

Grocery and related products............................. 4244 781.3 1.1 2.4 1.5 0.4 3.9 3.5

Farm product raw materials............................... 4245 71.7 1.3 3.4 -0.3 -1.6 3.0 4.7

Chemicals................................................... 4246 143.5 0.3 3.3 0.6 0.3 3.9 3.6

Petroleum................................................... 4247 104.5 2.6 2.0 1.2 -1.4 3.2 4.7

Alcoholic beverages....................................... 4248 201.3 0.7 2.5 2.3 1.5 4.8 3.3

Miscellaneous nondurable goods........................ 4249 340.2 0.5 2.9 -0.1 -0.6 2.9 3.5

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............... 425 495.6 2.5 -0.1 3.8 1.3 3.7 2.4

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............. 4251 495.6 2.5 -0.1 3.8 1.3 3.7 2.4

Retail Trade

Retail trade....................................................... 44-45 15,577.6 3.0 0.0 3.3 0.3 3.3 3.0

Motor vehicle and parts dealers............................. 441 1,960.1 2.3 0.6 2.9 0.5 3.5 3.0

Automobile dealers........................................ 4411 1,232.6 2.5 0.6 2.9 0.4 3.5 3.1

Other motor vehicle dealers.............................. 4412 160.9 2.8 1.0 3.9 1.1 4.9 3.8

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores................. 4413 566.6 1.1 1.3 1.7 0.6 3.1 2.5

Furniture and home furnishings stores..................... 442 445.6 3.8 -0.8 3.4 -0.4 2.6 3.0

Furniture stores............................................ 4421 214.5 3.4 -0.6 3.0 -0.4 2.4 2.8

Home furnishings stores.................................. 4422 231.1 4.3 -1.1 4.0 -0.3 2.8 3.2

Electronics and appliance stores............................ 443 439.6 10.1 -6.4 9.8 -0.2 2.8 3.0

Electronics and appliance stores......................... 4431 439.6 10.1 -6.4 9.8 -0.2 2.8 3.0

Building material and garden supply stores................ 444 1,406.2 2.3 0.2 3.3 1.0 3.5 2.5

Building material and supplies dealers.................. 4441 1,228.3 2.1 0.3 3.3 1.2 3.6 2.4

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores. . . . .. 4442 177.9 3.3 -0.6 3.3 -0.1 2.7 2.7

Food and beverage stores................................... 445 3,164.8 0.9 2.1 0.9 0.0 3.0 3.1

Grocery stores.............................................. 4451 2,770.8 0.8 2.3 0.9 0.1 3.2 3.1

Specialty food stores...................................... 4452 217.7 0.9 1.6 -0.2 -1.0 1.5 2.5

Beer, wine and liquor stores.............................. 4453 176.3 2.3 0.6 1.8 -0.5 2.4 2.9

Health and personal care stores............................ 446 990.0 1.9 1.5 2.6 0.6 4.1 3.5

Health and personal care stores......................... 4461 990.0 1.9 1.5 2.6 0.6 4.1 3.5

Gasoline stations............................................. 447 940.9 1.2 1.9 0.9 -0.2 2.9 3.1

Gasoline stations........................................... 4471 940.9 1.2 1.9 0.9 -0.2 2.9 3.1

Clothing and clothing accessories stores.................. 448 1,045.4 4.0 -0.9 2.8 -1.1 1.8 3.0

Clothing stores............................................. 4481 762.1 4.1 -1.1 3.0 -1.0 1.9 3.0

Shoe stores................................................. 4482 150.0 3.0 -0.2 1.6 -1.3 1.4 2.8

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores............. 4483 133.3 4.2 -0.7 2.6 -1.5 1.9 3.4

Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores. . . . . . . . . .. 451 505.3 4.0 -0.9 3.7 -0.3 2.8 3.1

Sporting goods and musical instrument stores. . . . . . . .. 4511 450.4 4.5 -1.3 4.6 0.1 3.2 3.1

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Table 2. Long run labor productivity, unit labor costs, and related data — Continued

Industry

2017

NAICS

code

2020

Employment

(thousands)

Average annual percent change, 1987-2020

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Book stores and news dealers........................... 4512 54.9 2.7 0.6 -0.1 -2.7 0.5 3.3

General merchandise stores................................ 452 3,039.6 3.0 -0.7 4.1 1.0 3.4 2.3

Department stores......................................... 4522 948.6 0.6 1.0 -0.2 -0.8 0.8 1.6

Other general merchandise stores....................... 4523 2,091.0 4.8 -1.6 7.2 2.3 5.5 3.2

Miscellaneous store retailers................................ 453 880.5 3.4 -0.8 2.9 -0.5 2.1 2.6

Florists...................................................... 4531 67.4 3.3 -0.2 -0.1 -3.3 -0.2 3.2

Office supplies, stationery and gift stores............... 4532 204.1 5.2 -2.0 2.7 -2.4 0.6 3.1

Used merchandise stores................................. 4533 188.4 4.4 -1.6 5.1 0.7 3.4 2.7

Other miscellaneous store retailers...................... 4539 420.6 1.3 0.5 2.6 1.3 3.1 1.7

Nonstore retailers............................................. 454 759.6 8.5 -3.9 9.4 0.9 5.2 4.3

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses............. 4541 527.0 9.8 -4.7 14.3 4.1 9.0 4.7

Vending machine operators............................... 4542 37.2 1.4 1.9 -1.7 -3.1 0.2 3.3

Direct selling establishments.............................. 4543 195.4 3.0 -0.2 1.2 -1.7 1.0 2.8

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