The census of distribution, taken in 1930, covers operations during the calendar year 1929. The results are contained in three volumes. Volume I consists of three parts.

Volume I, Part I includes three introductory chapters

1. Survey of retail distribution in the United States;
2. Definitions, and general explanation of terms;
3. Nature of the tables, and some suggested uses

Following is a section of 25 tables, of which tables 13 and 14 comprise the larger share of the volume.

Table 13. Retail distribution by counties and incorporated places. Presents data showing population, number of stores, personnel, pay roll, stocks, and sales.

Table 14. County distribution by kinds of business. Presents data showing number of stores and value of sales by kind of business for counties and incorporated places of 1,000 population and over.

An appendix explains the use of the various retail schedules and reproduces the schedules.