424520

Analysis

NAICS 424520 is the 2022 national industry for livestock merchant wholesalers, part of 42452 (Livestock Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 7 example activities under it in the official index.

County Business Patterns counts 573 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 4,594 people at an average annual payroll of $34,443 per employee (6th percentile of national industries). 59% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.

Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 14% and employment fell 3%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.

Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include auction markets, livestock (except horses, mules), merchant…, cattle merchant wholesalers, goats merchant wholesalers and hogs merchant wholesalers, among 7 in all.

For example, the merchant wholesale distribution of horses and mules are classified in 424590 (Other Farm Product Raw Material Merchant Wholesalers) instead.

Census lists 1 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 424590. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.