SIC 5399 Miscellaneous General Merchandise Stores

SIC 5399

This industry classification includes establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of a general line of apparel, dry goods, hardware, housewares or home furnishings, groceries, and other lines of limited amounts. Stores selling commodities covered in the definition for department stores, but normally having less than 50 employees, and stores usually known as country general stores are also included in this industry. Establishments primarily engaged in the retail sale of merchandise by television, catalog, and mail-order are classified in SIC 5961: Catalog and Mail-Order Houses.

NAICS CODE(S)

452910

Warehouse Clubs and Superstores

452990

All Other General Merchandise Stores

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, estimated annual retail sales in this industry (excluding food services) topped $3.7 trillion dollars in 2005—an increase of 7 percent from the previous year. Of this total, combined sales of miscellaneous general merchandise stores and warehouse club stores accounted for approximately $311.1 billion.

The miscellaneous general merchandise stores industry is subdivided into seven groups: miscellaneous general merchandise stores, which have accounted for less than 1 percent of the category's sales in recent years; county general stores (3%); surplus and salvage stores (about 2%); army and navy goods stores (12%); and warehouse club stores (82%). Catalog showroom stores and duty free stores each accounted for less than 1 percent of total...