The Annual Retail Trade Survey (ARTS) produced national estimates of total annual sales, e-commerce sales, sales taxes, end-of-year inventories, purchases, total operating expenses, gross margins, and end-of-year accounts receivable for retail businesses located in the United States.  The estimates were released approximately 12 months after the reference year had concluded.

Data generated from this survey are often used by government agencies, private businesses, and researchers.  For example, ARTS serves as a benchmark for the estimates produced from the Census Bureau's Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS).  Additionally, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) utilizes the estimates to derive industry output for the Input-Output accounts and for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  To view all of the data products stemming from ARTS, choose the "Data" option from the menu on the left.

All worksheets are in Adobe PDF file format and are for informational purposes only.  You may also view the letters sent to respondents about this survey by clicking on the links below.

Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Sections 131 and 182, authorizes this collection.  Sections 224 and 225 require your response.

The U.S. Census Bureau is required by Section 9 of Title 13 (United States Code) to keep your information confidential and can use your responses only to produce statistics.  The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify your business, organization, or institution.  Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data are protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.