The rise of what is often called “Big Box” stores is something that has clearly altered the retail landscape significantly. The figures presented here show this transition from 1997 to 2007, although it is worth noting that not all “Big Box” stores are warehouse clubs or superstores. The term “Big Box” includes many home improvement centers and other categories of retailer. The figures correspond to the industry designated by the Census Bureau’s North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code as 45-2910 and carrying the same title as this post.

Geographic reference: United States
Year: 1997 and 2007
Market size: Number of Establishments: 1,530 and 4,259 respectively.
Market size: Sales: $81.92 and $324.96 billion respectively.
Market size: Employment: 428,357 and 1,244,250 respectively.
Source: “Sector 44: EC0744I2: Retail Trade: Industry Series: Preliminary Comparative Statistics for the United States (2002 NAICS Basis): 2007 and 2002,” 2007 Economic Census, available online here. The data from 1997 are from the 1997 Economic Census, after conversion of the data to a NAICS 2002 basis.
Original source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census.