May 26, 2024 — You once could buy transistors, capacitors, and other components at your local neighborhood store. The decline in US computer and electronics manufacturing correlates with the decline in RadioShacks. To catch up to other nations, maybe it is time for a next-gen RadioShack.
Notes
- All of the data is in the source code for this blog post. Click "View Source" at the bottom of this page to see it.
- There are still 412 independently owned RadioShacks
- I found data for number of RadioShack stores for 6 years, and used Our World In Data's Grapher to interpolate the missing values.
- For ElectronicsManufacturing, I used the data from All Employees, Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing, averaged by year
Highlighted Reader Comments
I can have a far wider selection of electronic components delivered overnight for cheaper from Amazon, Mouser or Digikey. The need for a brick and mortar electronics store is long over. Time marches on. - rriggsco
Year ElectronicsManufacturing RadioShacks
1990 1902 4300
1991 1809 4711.111111
1992 1707 5122.222222
1993 1656 5533.333333
1994 1651 5944.444444
1995 1689 6355.555556
1996 1747 6766.666667
1997 1803 7177.777778
1998 1831 7588.888889
1999 1781 8000
2000 1820 7735.5
2001 1749 7471
2002 1507 7206.5
2003 1355 6942
2004 1323 6677.5
2005 1316 6413
2006 1308 6148.5
2007 1272 5884
2008 1244 5619.5
2009 1137 5355
2010 1094 5090.5
2011 1103 4826
2012 1089 4561.5
2013 1066 4297
2014 1049 3547.75
2015 1053 2798.5
2016 1048 2049.25
2017 1039 1300
2018 1054 500
2019 1075 485.3333333
2020 1063 470.6666667
2021 1060 456
2022 1090 441.3333333
2023 1108 426.6666667
2024 1105 412
Name Year Stores
RadioShacks 1990 4300
RadioShacks 1991
RadioShacks 1992
RadioShacks 1993
RadioShacks 1994
RadioShacks 1995
RadioShacks 1996
RadioShacks 1997
RadioShacks 1998
RadioShacks 1999 8000
RadioShacks 2000
RadioShacks 2001
RadioShacks 2002
RadioShacks 2003
RadioShacks 2004
RadioShacks 2005
RadioShacks 2006
RadioShacks 2007
RadioShacks 2008
RadioShacks 2009
RadioShacks 2010
RadioShacks 2011
RadioShacks 2012
RadioShacks 2013 4297
RadioShacks 2014
RadioShacks 2015
RadioShacks 2016
RadioShacks 2017 1300
RadioShacks 2018 500
RadioShacks 2019
RadioShacks 2020
RadioShacks 2021
RadioShacks 2022
RadioShacks 2023
RadioShacks 2024 412