NAICS 444 dealers slip in 2023
The full year numbers are in, and the big picture for hardware and building supply dealers is an industry wide decline in 2023 from a very strong 2022.
The latest Monthly Sales report for December from the U.S. Census Bureau puts at just under $500 billion the unadjusted 12-month sales figure for NAICS 444 retailers (building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers). That’s down 3.0 percent from 2022.
December NAICS sales were also down on an unadjusted basis.
On an adjusted basis, compared to November, December NAICS 444 sales came out ahead: $41.664 billion vs. $41.495 billion.
Annual sales for the 444 industry category were up against very strong numbers, fueled by commodity price inflation. Here's how the years stack up:
2023: $499,141,000,000; down 3.0%
2022: $509,533,000,000; up 6.6%
2021: $483,074,000,000; up 13.5%
2020: $438,187,000,000, up 14.0.%
Of the 14 retail classifications tracked in the Advance Monthly Sales Report, December sales for Food Services & Drinking Places showed the largest increased compared to December 2022, up 11.1 percent.
Restaurants were followed by Health and personal care stress (up 10.7 percent) and Electronics and appliance stores (also up 10.7 percent).
Nonstore retailers gained 9.7 percent.
