When administrative records of other Federal agencies were used instead of a census report, no information was available on the number of locations operated. Each economic census establishment was tabulated according to the physical location at which the business was conducted. The count of establishments represents those in business at any time during 1997. When two activities or more were carried on at a single location under a single ownership, all activities generally were grouped together as a single establishment. The entire establishment was classified on the basis of its major activity and all data for it were included in that classification.
Sales are net after deductions for refunds and allowances for merchandise returned by customers.
Trade-in allowances are not deducted from total sales. Sales in this report do not include wholesale sales made by manufacturers, retailers, service establishments, or other businesses whose primary activity is other than wholesale trade. They do include receipts other than from the sale of merchandise at wholesale, e.g., service receipts, retail sales, etc., by establishments primarily engaged in wholesale trade. Sales figures include sales of all establishments in business at any time during the year. Sales shown for agents and brokers represented the value of the goods involved in the transactions rather than the commissions received or earnings.