The tertiary sector refers to the service industry, where companies provide intangible goods or services to consumers. Synonyms for the tertiary sector include the service economy, the service sector, the tertiary industry, and the third sector. These terms all describe businesses that provide services rather than producing physical goods. Examples of companies in the tertiary sector include banking and financial services, healthcare, education, and retail. The growth of the tertiary sector is often seen as a sign of economic development as countries tend to move away from agriculture and manufacturing towards service-based economies.