Analysis
NAICS 423 is the 2022 subsector for merchant wholesalers, durable goods, part of 42 (Wholesale Trade). Census lists 1257 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 225,021 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 3,633,921 people at an average annual payroll of $94,991 per employee (81st percentile of national industries). 46% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 3 codes at this level within Wholesale Trade, with 58.9% of them.
Across its national industries Census lists 1257 index entries; typical ones are all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) merchant wholesalers, aftermarket parts, automotive, merchant wholesalers, heavy truck tires and tubes merchant wholesalers and automotive parts, used, merchant wholesalers.
It splits into 9 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 4238 (Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers) with 55,426.
Its more detailed codes are 4231 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (22,883 establishments), 4232 Furniture and Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers (11,608 establishments), 4233 Lumber and Other Construction Materials Merchant Wholesalers (18,121 establishments), 4234 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (29,863 establishments), 4235 Metal and Mineral (except Petroleum) Merchant Wholesalers (8,892 establishments) and 4236 Household Appliances and Electrical and Electronic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (25,969 establishments) and 3 more.
Official definition
Industries in the Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods subsector sell capital or durable goods to other businesses. Merchant wholesalers generally take title to the goods that they sell; in other words, they buy and sell goods on their own account. Durable goods are new or used items generally with a normal life expectancy of three years or more. Durable goods merchant wholesale trade establishments are engaged in wholesaling products, such as motor vehicles, furniture, construction materials, machinery and equipment (including household-type appliances), metals and minerals (except petroleum), sporting goods, toys and hobby goods, recyclable materials, and parts.
Agents and brokers primarily engaged in wholesaling durable goods, generally on a commission or fee basis, are classified in Subsector 425, Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (1257)
- All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) merchant wholesalers
- Aftermarket parts, automotive, merchant wholesalers
- Heavy truck tires and tubes merchant wholesalers
- Automotive parts, used, merchant wholesalers
- Antique furniture merchant wholesalers
- Antique home furnishings merchant wholesalers
- Building board (e.g., fiber, flake, particle) merchant wholesalers
- Asphalt and concrete mixtures merchant wholesalers
- Asphalt felts and coatings merchant wholesalers
- Architectural metalwork merchant wholesalers
- Camcorders (except household-type) merchant wholesalers
- Accounting machines merchant wholesalers
- Computer boards, loaded, merchant wholesalers
- Balances and scales (except laboratory) merchant wholesalers
- Appliances, surgical, merchant wholesalers
- Binoculars merchant wholesalers
- Analytical instruments (e.g., chromatographic, photometers, spectrographs) merchant wholesalers
- Aluminum and aluminum alloy primary forms merchant wholesalers
- Bauxite merchant wholesalers
- Alarm apparatus, electric, merchant wholesalers
- Air-conditioners, room, merchant wholesalers
- Amplifiers, audio (except household-type), merchant wholesalers
- Appliance hardware merchant wholesalers
- Bathtubs merchant wholesalers
- Air pollution control equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
- Beverage coolers, mechanical, merchant wholesalers
- Concrete processing equipment merchant wholesalers
- Agricultural implements merchant wholesalers
- Actuators, fluid power, merchant wholesalers
- Abrasives merchant wholesalers
- Amusement park equipment merchant wholesalers
- Aeronautical equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers
- Ammunition, sporting, merchant wholesalers
- Board games merchant wholesalers
- Bags, reclaimed, merchant wholesalers
- Antique jewelry merchant wholesalers
- Ammunition (except sporting) merchant wholesalers