NAICS 424920

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying U.S. business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of economic statistics. Developed under OMB’s Economic Classification Policy Committee and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS is a tri-national system maintained with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI; the current vintage used for Census economic programs is 2022. ¹

Within Wholesale Trade, NAICS 424920 identifies establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of books, periodicals, and newspapers. Federal statistical programs, including the Economic Census and related surveys, disseminate industry data using the 2022 NAICS structure. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 424920 overview
• G2X — NAICS 424110
• G2X — NAICS 424120

What this NAICS covers

• Wholesale distribution of printed books across trade, educational, professional, and specialty categories.
• Wholesale distribution of magazines, journals, and other periodicals.
• Wholesale distribution of newspapers to retailers and institutional buyers.
• Book and periodical jobbers/distributors acting on their own account (merchant wholesalers).
• Sales to retailers, libraries, schools, and other institutional customers rather than the general public.
• Services incidental to wholesaling (for example, sorting, packaging, and labeling) performed to support the sale of merchandise.
• Warehousing/office operations typical of merchant wholesalers rather than storefront retailing.

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Program coverage and data availability

• Economic Census (2022 vintage): Wholesale Trade sector tables provide geographic and industry detail; users can filter to NAICS codes within sector 42 to analyze merchant wholesalers. ⁴
• The Census Bureau’s 2022 NAICS implementation schedule confirms the transition of economic programs to the 2022 structure and points to releases using this vintage. ²

Industry boundaries and exclusions

• Publishing vs. wholesaling: Publishing activities (e.g., producing and distributing books or periodicals in any format) are classified in the Information sector under 2022 NAICS; wholesaling of these items is classified under 424920. ⁵
• Retail vs. wholesaling: Retail book/news dealers fall in Retail Trade. The 2022 NAICS update removed the distinction based on sales channel (store vs. nonstore), reinforcing that retailing is separate from merchant wholesaling. ⁵

Frequently asked questions

• What activities are included under NAICS 424920?

  It covers merchant wholesalers whose primary business is distributing books, periodicals, and newspapers to retailers and institutional buyers. The official label for 424920 is “Book, Periodical, and Newspaper Merchant Wholesalers.” ⁷

• Does NAICS 424920 include publishing activities (print or digital)?

  No. Publishing activities are classified in the Information sector under the 2022 NAICS reorganization; wholesaling of these products remains in Wholesale Trade under 424920. ⁵

• Are retail bookstores or newsstands classified in NAICS 424920?

  No. Retailers are classified in Retail Trade. The 2022 NAICS update consolidated storefront and nonstore distinctions, but retailing remains distinct from wholesaling. ⁵

• Where can official federal data for NAICS 424920 be found?

  The 2022 Economic Census Wholesale Trade sector page provides links to tables and FTP files that can be filtered to the relevant NAICS, including detailed geographic statistics. ⁴

• Does the Census Bureau publish annual statistics for merchant wholesalers that use NAICS codes?

  Yes. The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey publishes national estimates by 2- through 4-digit NAICS, along with sector highlights for merchant wholesalers. ³

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 424920 overview
• Census — 2022 NAICS Sector 42: Wholesale Trade (data tables and FTP). ⁴
• Census — NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. ¹
• Census — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and program adoption). ²

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/technical-documentation/code-lists/understanding-naics-redirect.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS). https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/annual-wholesale-trade-survey.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 NAICS Sector 42 — Wholesale Trade (Economic Census). https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2022/econ/economic-census/naics-sector-42.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau. Impact of Changes to the North American Industry Classification System (America Counts). https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2024/11/naics-changes.html
6. U.S. General Services Administration. Product and Service Code Manual (April 2025), Group 76. https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
7. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Code 424920: Book, Periodical, and Newspaper Merchant Wholesalers. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=424920&year=2022&details=Yes