No surprise: Wal-Mart leads retail ranking

WASHINGTON - Wal-Mart topped the list of the largest retailers with 2004 sales of $288.2 billion, according to the 2005 Triversity Top 100 Retailers ranking, released by Stores Magazine - the monthly magazine of the National Retail Federation.

Those purveying home textiles, among a litany of other items, peppered the list, with Target (number five at $46.8 billion), Sears (number nine at $36.1 billion), Kmart (number 14 at $19.7 billion) and JCPenney (number 16 at $18.4 billion) all landing within the top 20.

The two main specialty stores focused on home landed in the top 100, with Bed Bath & Beyond reaching number 48 at $5.1 billion in sales and Linens 'n Things making the cut at 82 with $2.7 billion.

Home improvement centers scored two of the top 10 slots - Home Depot coming in at number two with $73.1 billion in sales and Lowe's reaching number eight with $36.5 billion.