This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of furniture and home furnishings and/or housewares. Included in this industry group is the merchant wholesale distribution of household and office furniture, as well as carpet merchant wholesalers, household-type cooking utensils, and drapery merchant wholesalers.

For the 2012 and 2007 Commodity Flow Surveys, the wholesale establishments exclude any manufacturers sales offices and own brand importers.