This industry comprises establishments known as department stores primarily engaged in retailing a wide range of the following new products with no one merchandise line predominating: apparel, furniture, appliances and home furnishings; and selected additional items, such as paint, hardware, toiletries, cosmetics, photographic equipment, jewelry, toys, and sporting goods. Merchandise lines are normally arranged in separate departments.

Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in--

Retailing packaged grocery items in combination with general lines of merchandise with no one merchandise line predominating--are classified in Industry 45291, Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters;

Retailing apparel without a significant amount of housewares or general merchandise--are classified in Subsector 448, Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores;

Retailing general lines of merchandise via electronic home shopping, mail-order, or direct sale--are classified in Subsector 454, Nonstore Retailers; and

Retailing used merchandise--are classified in Industry 45331, Used Merchandise Stores.

For the 2007 Economic Census, the 2007 Survey of Business Owners, and the 2007 Economic Census of Island Areas, total sales exclude the sales from leased departments owned by another company and operating within the department store. Department stores include sales from catalog order desks.