In its annual ranking of the largest retailers by U.S. sales, the National Retail Federation has pegged Apple in 21st place in 2010 with over $18 billion in sales between its retail and iTunes stores (via The Next Web).

2010 top us retailers
Apple's retail sales grew 32.3% year-over-year in 2010, second only to Amazon's 46.2% growth among the top 100 U.S. retailers. Interestingly, Apple's $18 billion in U.S. sales places the company one spot ahead of department store chain J.C. Penney, which will soon be led by current Apple retail store chief Ron Johnson.

The National Retail Federation's 2009 rankings published last year had Apple in 53rd place with only a little over $6.5 billion in sales. Those numbers would put Apple's annual growth at 175% instead of 32.3%, and thus it is unclear if something has changed in the methodology of the rankings or if there is an error in the data for Apple.

Update: We have heard back from the National Retail Federation, which reports that the methodology for Apple has indeed changed between 2009 and 2010. The new numbers include iTunes Store sales and direct-to-consumer sales through apple.com, whereas the previous numbers had excluded those sales. Consequently, the 32.3% annual growth is calculated as if iTunes and apple.com sales had been included in the 2009 data.

Top Rated Comments

deannnnn Avatar
183 months ago
Wow Publix is 14?! They're only in like 4 states!
Good for them, I love Publix. I hate shopping elsewhere when I'm in New York.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrmjenkins Avatar
183 months ago
Wow Walmarts number 1. Whats this country coming to??!!!

Uh, you mean came to? Wal-Mart has probably been #1 for 20 if not 30 years.

Also interesting is how much Amazon is still growing year over year.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Vol7ron Avatar
183 months ago
I can't believe that many people eat at McDonalds....ugh, their food is so disgusting....
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coder12 Avatar
183 months ago
You may notice how 3 of those top 25 are located in MN... ;) mwahahahaha....
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
maczter Avatar
183 months ago
Actually, I think Costco beats Apple there, but certainly per square foot Apple is first!
The data is available on the linked source's web site. If you copy and paste it into a spreadsheet, add a column for worldwide sales per store (worldwide retails sales column / 2010 stores column), then sort by that column, you'll get your answer. Apple wasn't #1, but they're very close, and IKEA jumps from #89 based on sales amount to #1 when the list is sorted by sales per store.

Also, keep in mind that the worldwide retail sales column is in thousands, so don't forget to tack an extra three zeros on the end of the worldwide sales per store column.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Maddix Avatar
183 months ago
I'd go to WallofChinaMart, but don't want to be in the People of Walmart sites.
So your saying the crap in Target isn't made in China like every other retailer and your a fat slob?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
Prime Day 25 Feature Warm Triad

The Best Early Prime Day Deals on Apple Products

Saturday July 5, 2025 7:22 am PDT by
Amazon is soon to be back with its annual summertime Prime Day event, lasting for four days from July 8-11, the longest Prime Day yet. As it does every year, Prime Day offers shoppers a huge selection of deals across Amazon's storefront, and there are already many deals you can get on sale ahead of the event. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
airpods pro 2

AirPods Pro 3 to Help Maintain Apple's Place in Earbud Market Amid Increasing Low-Cost Competition

Thursday July 3, 2025 7:25 am PDT by
Apple's position as the dominant force in the global true wireless stereo (TWS) earbud market is expected to continue through 2025, according to Counterpoint Research. The forecast outlines a 3% year-over-year increase in global TWS unit shipments for 2025, signaling a transition from rapid growth to a more mature phase for the category. While Apple is set to remain the leading brand by...