This Survey covers department stores, general merchandisers, and discounters. The department store segment includes full-line department stores (like Macy's and J.C. Penney) that sell apparel and some home goods (small appliances, giftware, and the like) and specialty department stores (like Nordstrom and Saks) that sell apparel, shoes, and accessories. The general merchandiser segment includes companies that carry a broader merchandise line - apparel, appliances, home improvement products, and the like - than department stores do. (Sears is an example.) The discounter segment refers to retailers that offer a wide range of merchandise, from apparel to small appliances and cookware, to health and beauty aids at "value" prices. (Examples include Wal-Mart, Kmart, and Target.) "Department Stores" and "General Merchandise Stores" are GICS sub-industries in the "Consumer Discretionary" sector of the S&P 1500. Industry Surveys covers more than 50 of the largest and most significant US industries. The information provided for each follows the same general format: the industry's recent performance, an analysis of trends that will influence it in the future, and a broad and fundamental overview of its structure. Both text and data are provided, as are references to additional sources of industry information, including Web sites. | 
