What is meant by the types and classification of the the retail industry?
You may be referring to SIC codes. The Standard Industrial Classification (abbreviated SIC) is a United States government system for classifying industries by a four-digit code. Established in 1937, it is being supplanted by the six-digit North American Industry Classification System, which was released in 1997; however certain government departments and agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), still use the SIC codes. The numbers 5200 to 5990 cover the retail store section.