For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, July 30, 2020 USDL-20-1465

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

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PRODUCTIVITY AND COSTS BY INDUSTRY: WHOLESALE TRADE AND

RETAIL TRADE INDUSTRIES – 2019

Labor productivity rose 5.3 percent in retail trade and 0.4 percent in wholesale trade in 2019, 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 2019 was the highest since 1999. In 2019, retail trade 

output increased at an accelerating rate while hours worked fell at a faster rate than in 2018. In

wholesale trade, productivity and output increased at a slower rate than in 2018 and hours worked 

increased at a slightly faster rate. 

Chart 1. Largest changes in productivity in 4-digit wholesale trade and retail trade industries, 2019 

11.7

13.2

8.3

11.5

10.9 8.4

-3.6

-6.2

-6.8 -4.0

-5.4

-3.8

Electronics and appliance 

stores

Specialty food 

stores

Electronic shopping and 

mail-order houses

Petroleum merchant 

wholesalers

Appliance and electric goods 

merchant wholesalers

Apparel and piece goods Misc. nondurable merchant wholesalers

goods merchant 

wholesalers

Home furnishings stores Used merchandise stores

Farm product raw 

material merchand 

wholesalers

Direct selling 

establishments

Vending machine operators

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

-25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20 25

Output Percent Change

Hours Worked Percent Change

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 2019. 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 4-digit industries with the highest productivity growth, five reported growth in output 

while one industry showed growth in hours worked. Productivity growth was greatest in electronic 

shopping and mail-order houses (+13.2 percent) where growth in output far surpassed growth in hours 

worked. 

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

output increased in one, vending machine operators. The two industries with the greatest decreases in 

productivity were appliance and electric goods merchant wholesalers (-6.2 percent) and used 

merchandise stores (-6.8 percent). 

Labor Productivity Rose in Majority of Industries in 2019 

Productivity increased in 13 of the 15 3-digit NAICS industries studied in 2019. Eight industries had 

productivity gains of at least 4.0 percent, with the highest in nonstore retailers (+14.0 percent) which 

also had the largest increase in output (+15.6 percent). Of the two industries with productivity declines,

building material and garden supply stores experienced the largest drop (-2.3 percent). (See chart 2). 

Chart 2. Productivity change in 3-digit wholesale trade and retail trade industries, 2019 

-2.3

-1.1

1.3

1.4

1.8

1.9

2.0

4.5

4.9

5.5

5.6

6.2

7.0

11.7

14.0

-12 -8 -4 0 4 8 12 16 20

Building material and garden supply stores

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Food and beverage stores

Miscellaneous store retailers

Gasoline stations

Health and personal care stores

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Electronic markets and agents and brokers

Sports, hobby, music instrument, book stores

General merchandise stores

Electronics and appliance stores

Nonstore retailers

Percent Change

Productivity

2.2

1.4

0.4

1.6

-0.1

0.2

-0.2

-1.3

-5.0

-4.0

-4.0

-6.0

-5.4

-7.5

1.5

-0.2

0.3

1.7

3.0

1.7

2.1

1.8

3.2

-0.3

1.3

1.4

-0.2

1.2

3.3

15.6

-12 -8 -4 0 4 8 12 16 20

Percent Change

Output

Hours

2
Productivity increased in 30 of the 46 4-digit NAICS industries studied in 2019. Output grew in 31 

industries while hours worked grew in 24 industries. (See table 1). 

In wholesale trade, productivity rose 0.4 percent as output grew 1.0 percent and hours worked increased 

0.6 percent. 

• Productivity fell 1.1 percent in durable goods wholesalers and rose 1.3 percent in nondurable 

goods wholesalers. 

• Productivity increased in 8 of the 19 4-digit wholesale trade industries while output rose in 11 

industries and hours worked grew in 13. 

• The most rapid increase in productivity occurred in petroleum merchant wholesalers (+8.4 

percent) because output grew 8.1 percent while hours worked declined 0.3 percent. 

In retail trade, productivity increased by 5.3 percent as output grew 3.7 percent and hours worked fell 

1.5 percent. 

• Productivity increased in 22 of the 27 4-digit retail trade industries while output grew in 20 

industries and hours worked rose in 11. 

• The largest productivity increase occurred in electronic shopping and mail-order houses (+13.2 

percent) as output increased at over five times the rate of hours worked. 

• Specialty food stores hours worked declined 11.7 percent while output declined 1.6 percent, 

resulting in a productivity increase of 11.5 percent. 

Unit Labor Costs Decline in One Third of Industries in 2019 

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

• Unit labor costs fell in 5 out of 15 3-digit wholesale and retail trade industries in 2019. All unit 

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

• Unit labor costs declined in 4 of 19 4-digit wholesale trade industries. In retail trade, 9 of 27 4-

digit industries had declines in unit labor costs, and two 4-digit industries had no change. 

• Hourly compensation, defined as labor compensation per hour worked, rose in 37 of the 46 

4-digit industries. 

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

industries, 2019 

Long-term Labor Productivity Increases for Most Industries 

From 1987 to 2019, labor productivity increased at an average annual rate of 2.7 percent in wholesale 

trade and 2.9 percent in retail trade. (See table 2.)

• Among the 4-digit industries, productivity rose from 1987 to 2019 in 43 industries, was 

unchanged in 2 industries, and declined in 1 industry, metal and mineral merchant wholesalers. 

• Of the 43 4-digit industries with increasing productivity growth, 38 experienced rising output 

while 22 had an increase in hours worked. 

• Median productivity among 4-digit industries grew at an average annual rate of 1.9 percent. 

• The 2007 to 2019 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 4-digit industries with increasing productivity dropped from 43 out of 46 during 

the 1987-2007 period to 33 during the 2007-2019 period. 

3.6

2.8

2.8

1.5

1.5

1.2

0.9

0.8

0.6

0.2

-0.9

-1.9

-3.7

-6.2

-7.2

-12 -8 -4 0 4 8 12 16

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods

Gasoline stations

Building material and garden supply stores

Food and beverage stores

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods

Motor vehicle and parts dealers

Sports, hobby, music instrument, book stores

Miscellaneous store retailers

Clothing and clothing accessories stores

Electronic markets and agents and brokers

General merchandise stores

Health and personal care stores

Furniture and home furnishings stores

Electronics and appliance stores

Nonstore retailers

Percent Change

Unit Labor Costs Productivity Hourly Compensation

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

From 1987 to 2019, unit labor costs declined at an average annual rate of 0.3 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 4-digit industries, unit labor costs fell in 15 out of 46 industries from 1987 to 2019. 

Unit labor costs declined in 2 out of 19 wholesale trade and in 13 out of 27 retail trade industries. 

• From 2007 to 2019, unit labor costs declined in 14 out of 46 industries. All industries with 

declines in unit labor costs experienced increases in productivity. 

• During the 1987 to 2007 and 2007 to 2019 periods, electronics and appliance stores had the 

largest unit labor cost declines and the largest productivity gains among the 3-digit industries. 

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

4.1

5.6

1.6

1.1

1.6

0.3

2.9 3.3

2.3

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

1987-2019 1987-2007 2007-2019

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

-0.3 -1.0

0.9

2.7 3.0

2.1

0.0 0.0 -0.1

-2.0

-1.0

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

1987-2019 1987-2007 2007-2019

Average Annual 

Percent Change

Wholesale Durable Goods Wholesale Nondurable Goods Retail Trade

Labor Productivity

Unit Labor Costs

5
Additional Information

Time periods for data covered by this release precede, and are therefore not impacted by, the COVID-19 

pandemic. 

The trade measures in this release incorporate benchmark data from the Census Bureau’s Annual 

Wholesale Trade Report (February 2020), Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey (May 2020), Annual Retail 

Trade Survey (February 2020), Annual Revision of the Monthly Retail and Food Services: Sales and 

Inventories (April 2020), and Nonemployer Statistics (May 2020). Accordingly, the labor productivity 

and output series for all industries have been revised for 2018 and earlier years. Additionally, the unit 

labor cost measures incorporate preliminary data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and 

Wages (June 2020). 

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 

https://subscriptions.bls.gov/accounts/USDOLBLS/subscriber/new. 

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

2019

Employment

(thousands)

Percent change, 2018-2019

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Wholesale Trade

Wholesale trade................................................. 42 6,028.4 0.4 2.5 1.0 0.6 3.5 2.9

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods...................... 423 3,262.2 -1.1 3.6 0.3 1.4 4.0 2.5

Motor vehicles and parts.................................. 4231 364.3 -1.8 2.9 1.7 3.5 4.6 1.1

Furniture and furnishings.................................. 4232 119.5 4.9 -0.3 3.8 -1.1 3.5 4.6

Lumber and construction supplies....................... 4233 254.5 -0.4 2.6 3.2 3.6 5.9 2.2

Commercial equipment.................................... 4234 693.3 4.0 -0.9 5.6 1.5 4.6 3.0

Metals and minerals....................................... 4235 139.3 -0.7 1.3 0.1 0.8 1.4 0.7

Appliances and electric goods............................ 4236 365.3 -6.2 8.1 -6.0 0.2 1.6 1.4

Hardware and plumbing................................... 4237 285.9 -3.4 5.0 -0.1 3.3 4.9 1.5

Machinery and supplies................................... 4238 721.5 -2.8 5.8 -1.0 1.8 4.7 2.8

Miscellaneous durable goods............................. 4239 318.6 1.2 3.7 -1.7 -2.9 1.9 4.9

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods................. 424 2,230.2 1.3 1.5 1.7 0.4 3.2 2.8

Paper and paper products................................ 4241 132.2 -2.5 8.5 -6.7 -4.3 1.2 5.8

Druggists’ goods........................................... 4242 243.5 0.9 3.7 1.2 0.3 4.9 4.6

Apparel and piece goods.................................. 4243 156.4 -4.0 4.1 -3.2 0.9 0.8 -0.1

Grocery and related products............................. 4244 812.4 1.5 0.2 2.0 0.5 2.2 1.7

Farm product raw materials............................... 4245 72.2 -5.4 -6.5 -0.8 4.9 -7.2 -11.6

Chemicals................................................... 4246 153.3 -1.7 3.1 0.4 2.2 3.6 1.4

Petroleum................................................... 4247 105.9 8.4 -0.8 8.1 -0.3 7.2 7.5

Alcoholic beverages....................................... 4248 207.9 2.7 1.6 4.3 1.6 6.0 4.3

Miscellaneous nondurable goods........................ 4249 346.4 -3.6 7.6 -3.9 -0.3 3.4 3.7

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............... 425 536.0 5.6 0.2 1.4 -4.0 1.6 5.8

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............. 4251 536.0 5.6 0.2 1.4 -4.0 1.6 5.8

Retail Trade

Retail trade....................................................... 44-45 16,410.5 5.3 -1.1 3.7 -1.5 2.5 4.1

Motor vehicle and parts dealers............................. 441 2,093.4 1.4 1.2 3.0 1.6 4.2 2.6

Automobile dealers........................................ 4411 1,331.2 2.4 1.3 2.9 0.4 4.2 3.8

Other motor vehicle dealers.............................. 4412 177.6 0.5 -2.0 6.6 6.2 4.5 -1.6

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores................. 4413 584.6 -1.4 2.5 1.7 3.1 4.2 1.1

Furniture and home furnishings stores..................... 442 498.7 4.9 -3.7 -0.3 -5.0 -4.0 1.0

Furniture stores............................................ 4421 231.8 1.9 0.4 -2.2 -4.0 -1.8 2.3

Home furnishings stores.................................. 4422 266.9 8.3 -8.1 1.8 -6.0 -6.4 -0.4

Electronics and appliance stores............................ 443 490.4 11.7 -6.2 3.3 -7.5 -3.0 4.8

Electronics and appliance stores......................... 4431 490.4 11.7 -6.2 3.3 -7.5 -3.0 4.8

Building material and garden supply stores................ 444 1,329.3 -2.3 2.8 -0.2 2.2 2.6 0.4

Building material and supplies dealers.................. 4441 1,163.3 -3.0 1.9 0.3 3.4 2.2 -1.1

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores. . . . .. 4442 166.0 2.2 9.0 -3.4 -5.5 5.3 11.4

Food and beverage stores................................... 445 3,146.7 1.8 1.5 1.7 -0.1 3.2 3.3

Grocery stores.............................................. 4451 2,722.8 1.1 2.1 1.9 0.7 4.0 3.3

Specialty food stores...................................... 4452 242.7 11.5 -4.1 -1.6 -11.7 -5.6 6.9

Beer, wine and liquor stores.............................. 4453 181.2 -2.9 2.5 1.4 4.4 3.9 -0.5

Health and personal care stores............................ 446 1,103.3 4.5 -1.9 3.2 -1.3 1.2 2.5

Health and personal care stores......................... 4461 1,103.3 4.5 -1.9 3.2 -1.3 1.2 2.5

Gasoline stations............................................. 447 949.6 2.0 2.8 1.8 -0.2 4.7 4.9

Gasoline stations........................................... 4471 949.6 2.0 2.8 1.8 -0.2 4.7 4.9

Clothing and clothing accessories stores.................. 448 1,398.1 5.5 0.6 1.3 -4.0 1.9 6.2

Clothing stores............................................. 4481 1,029.2 6.8 0.0 0.8 -5.6 0.8 6.8

Shoe stores................................................. 4482 203.8 0.9 2.9 2.7 1.8 5.6 3.7

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores............. 4483 165.1 5.7 1.0 2.5 -3.0 3.5 6.8

Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores. . . . . . . . . .. 451 602.7 6.2 0.9 -0.2 -6.0 0.7 7.1

Sporting goods and musical instrument stores. . . . . . . .. 4511 517.0 6.7 0.6 -0.1 -6.4 0.5 7.4

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

Industry

2017

NAICS

code

2019

Employment

(thousands)

Percent change, 2018-2019

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Book stores and news dealers........................... 4512 85.7 2.2 2.7 -0.8 -2.9 1.9 4.9

General merchandise stores................................ 452 3,055.2 7.0 -0.9 1.2 -5.4 0.3 6.1

Department stores......................................... 4522 1,083.1 5.1 1.1 -3.6 -8.3 -2.6 6.2

Other general merchandise stores....................... 4523 1,972.1 6.7 -0.7 2.4 -4.0 1.8 6.0

Miscellaneous store retailers................................ 453 981.5 1.9 0.8 2.1 0.2 3.0 2.7

Florists...................................................... 4531 73.8 6.0 -7.3 5.8 -0.2 -1.9 -1.7

Office supplies, stationery and gift stores............... 4532 257.4 5.8 0.0 1.4 -4.1 1.4 5.7

Used merchandise stores................................. 4533 225.2 -6.8 5.3 -1.9 5.2 3.3 -1.9

Other miscellaneous store retailers...................... 4539 425.1 2.8 1.2 3.1 0.3 4.3 4.0

Nonstore retailers............................................. 454 761.6 14.0 -7.2 15.6 1.5 7.3 5.8

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses............. 4541 483.3 13.2 -5.4 16.9 3.2 10.5 7.0

Vending machine operators............................... 4542 49.7 -3.8 8.7 2.4 6.4 11.3 4.5

Direct selling establishments.............................. 4543 228.6 10.9 -10.8 7.2 -3.4 -4.3 -1.0

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

Industry

2017

NAICS

code

2019

Employment

(thousands)

Average annual percent change, 1987-2019

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Wholesale Trade

Wholesale trade................................................. 42 6,028.4 2.7 1.0 3.0 0.3 4.0 3.7

Merchant wholesalers, durable goods...................... 423 3,262.2 4.1 -0.3 4.4 0.2 4.0 3.8

Motor vehicles and parts.................................. 4231 364.3 3.2 0.4 3.2 0.0 3.6 3.7

Furniture and furnishings.................................. 4232 119.5 1.7 2.1 1.8 0.1 3.9 3.9

Lumber and construction supplies....................... 4233 254.5 1.0 1.6 1.8 0.8 3.4 2.7

Commercial equipment.................................... 4234 693.3 11.3 -6.5 11.5 0.2 4.3 4.1

Metals and minerals....................................... 4235 139.3 -0.4 3.8 -0.1 0.3 3.7 3.4

Appliances and electric goods............................ 4236 365.3 6.9 -2.5 6.7 -0.2 4.0 4.2

Hardware and plumbing................................... 4237 285.9 1.4 2.1 2.4 1.0 4.5 3.5

Machinery and supplies................................... 4238 721.5 1.6 2.2 1.7 0.1 4.0 3.9

Miscellaneous durable goods............................. 4239 318.6 1.1 2.6 1.5 0.5 4.1 3.7

Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods................. 424 2,230.2 1.1 2.7 1.3 0.2 4.1 3.8

Paper and paper products................................ 4241 132.2 0.6 2.6 0.0 -0.6 2.7 3.3

Druggists’ goods........................................... 4242 243.5 2.2 3.5 3.5 1.2 7.1 5.9

Apparel and piece goods.................................. 4243 156.4 1.8 1.5 1.4 -0.4 3.0 3.3

Grocery and related products............................. 4244 812.4 1.0 2.2 1.7 0.7 4.0 3.3

Farm product raw materials............................... 4245 72.2 1.1 3.6 -0.5 -1.6 3.0 4.7

Chemicals................................................... 4246 153.3 0.0 3.4 0.7 0.6 4.1 3.4

Petroleum................................................... 4247 105.9 2.5 2.2 1.2 -1.3 3.4 4.7

Alcoholic beverages....................................... 4248 207.9 0.3 2.8 2.1 1.8 4.9 3.1

Miscellaneous nondurable goods........................ 4249 346.4 0.0 3.3 -0.4 -0.4 2.9 3.3

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............... 425 536.0 1.5 0.8 3.0 1.5 3.8 2.3

Electronic markets and agents and brokers............. 4251 536.0 1.5 0.8 3.0 1.5 3.8 2.3

Retail Trade

Retail trade....................................................... 44-45 16,410.5 2.9 0.0 3.3 0.4 3.3 2.9

Motor vehicle and parts dealers............................. 441 2,093.4 2.2 0.6 3.0 0.8 3.6 2.8

Automobile dealers........................................ 4411 1,331.2 2.3 0.6 3.1 0.8 3.7 2.9

Other motor vehicle dealers.............................. 4412 177.6 2.5 0.8 3.9 1.4 4.7 3.3

Auto parts, accessories, and tire stores................. 4413 584.6 1.0 1.4 1.7 0.7 3.2 2.4

Furniture and home furnishings stores..................... 442 498.7 3.8 -1.0 3.6 -0.2 2.6 2.8

Furniture stores............................................ 4421 231.8 3.2 -0.6 3.0 -0.2 2.4 2.6

Home furnishings stores.................................. 4422 266.9 4.6 -1.5 4.4 -0.2 2.9 3.0

Electronics and appliance stores............................ 443 490.4 10.7 -7.2 10.9 0.2 2.9 2.7

Electronics and appliance stores......................... 4431 490.4 10.7 -7.2 10.9 0.2 2.9 2.7

Building material and garden supply stores................ 444 1,329.3 2.5 0.0 3.2 0.7 3.2 2.5

Building material and supplies dealers.................. 4441 1,163.3 2.4 0.1 3.2 0.9 3.3 2.4

Lawn and garden equipment and supplies stores. . . . .. 4442 166.0 3.2 -0.5 3.0 -0.3 2.4 2.7

Food and beverage stores................................... 445 3,146.7 0.7 2.1 0.7 0.0 2.8 2.8

Grocery stores.............................................. 4451 2,722.8 0.5 2.4 0.6 0.1 3.0 2.9

Specialty food stores...................................... 4452 242.7 0.5 1.8 -0.3 -0.8 1.5 2.3

Beer, wine and liquor stores.............................. 4453 181.2 2.0 0.7 1.5 -0.5 2.2 2.7

Health and personal care stores............................ 446 1,103.3 1.8 1.4 2.8 1.0 4.2 3.2

Health and personal care stores......................... 4461 1,103.3 1.8 1.4 2.8 1.0 4.2 3.2

Gasoline stations............................................. 447 949.6 1.4 1.6 1.1 -0.2 2.8 3.0

Gasoline stations........................................... 4471 949.6 1.4 1.6 1.1 -0.2 2.8 3.0

Clothing and clothing accessories stores.................. 448 1,398.1 4.0 -1.0 3.6 -0.4 2.5 2.9

Clothing stores............................................. 4481 1,029.2 4.3 -1.2 4.0 -0.3 2.7 3.0

Shoe stores................................................. 4482 203.8 2.9 -0.7 2.6 -0.3 1.9 2.2

Jewelry, luggage, and leather goods stores............. 4483 165.1 3.3 -0.1 2.6 -0.7 2.5 3.2

Sports, hobby, music instruments, book stores. . . . . . . . . .. 451 602.7 3.6 -0.6 3.6 0.0 3.0 3.0

Sporting goods and musical instrument stores. . . . . . . .. 4511 517.0 4.1 -1.1 4.4 0.3 3.3 3.0

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

Industry

2017

NAICS

code

2019

Employment

(thousands)

Average annual percent change, 1987-2019

Labor

productivity

Unit

labor

costs

Output Hours

worked

Labor

compensation

Hourly

compensation

Book stores and news dealers........................... 4512 85.7 1.8 1.2 0.2 -1.6 1.3 3.0

General merchandise stores................................ 452 3,055.2 3.0 -0.7 4.1 1.1 3.4 2.3

Department stores......................................... 4522 1,083.1 0.7 0.9 0.3 -0.4 1.3 1.7

Other general merchandise stores....................... 4523 1,972.1 4.9 -1.7 7.2 2.1 5.3 3.1

Miscellaneous store retailers................................ 453 981.5 3.3 -0.8 3.1 -0.2 2.3 2.5

Florists...................................................... 4531 73.8 3.1 0.0 0.0 -3.1 0.0 3.1

Office supplies, stationery and gift stores............... 4532 257.4 5.6 -2.4 3.7 -1.8 1.2 3.1

Used merchandise stores................................. 4533 225.2 4.4 -1.8 5.7 1.2 3.8 2.5

Other miscellaneous store retailers...................... 4539 425.1 1.0 0.6 2.5 1.5 3.1 1.6

Nonstore retailers............................................. 454 761.6 8.4 -3.8 9.2 0.8 5.1 4.3

Electronic shopping and mail-order houses............. 4541 483.3 10.1 -4.7 14.2 3.7 8.9 4.9

Vending machine operators............................... 4542 49.7 0.3 3.1 -1.8 -2.1 1.3 3.5

Direct selling establishments.............................. 4543 228.6 2.7 -0.1 1.3 -1.4 1.2 2.6

11