CB-00-60FOR WIRE TRANSMISION 8:30 A.M. ET., Thursday, April 13, 2000
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for March, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $269.2 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent (±0.7%) from the previous month and up 10.5 percent (±0.9%) from March 1999. Total sales for the January through March period were up 10.5 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The January to February 2000 percent change was revised from +1.1 percent (±0.7%) to +1.8 percent (±0.3%).
Durable goods decreased 0.9 percent (±1.4%) from February but were 10.7 percent above last year. Automotive sales were up 11.1 percent from March a year ago, while furniture sales were up 9.5 percent from last year.
Nondurable goods increased 1.3 percent (±0.6%) from February and were up 10.4 percent from March 1999. Gasoline sales were up 31.2 percent from March a year ago, while eating and drinking sales were up 10.7 percent from last year.
The advance estimates are based on a small subsample of the Bureau's full retail sales sample. Estimates from the advance and the subsequent full survey can differ because of the earlier reporting in the advance and because of sampling variability present in both surveys.
Percent Change in Retail Sales
(Data adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes)
This report is available the day of issue through the Department of Commerce's online Economic Bulletin Board. For information call (202) 482-1986.
TABLE 1A. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--March 2000
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2000 2000 2000 SIC Kind of business Mar Feb Jan code adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 269,226 268,249 263,544 Total (excl. auto dealers). 202,034 199,293 195,800 Durable goods, total........ 113,176 114,169 112,504 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,974 15,384 15,624 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 12,049 12,259 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,271 1,258 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 67,192 68,956 67,744 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 63,700 65,502 64,328 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,454 3,416 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 14,673 14,729 14,477 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,800 6,718 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,912 6,747 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 156,050 154,080 151,040 53 General merchandise group stores.. 33,364 33,142 32,971 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 25,798 25,749 25,706 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 26,257 26,225 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,273 1,266 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 6,120 5,999 54 Food stores....................... 39,737 39,557 38,764 541 Grocery stores.................. 37,587 37,408 36,622 554 Gasoline service stations......... 18,324 17,611 16,496 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,980 11,714 11,329 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 948 926 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ (*) 3,141 2,913 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,787 1,790 58 Eating and drinking places........ 25,697 25,284 25,155 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,366 10,149 10,204 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,374 2,316 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 8,204 8,101 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 68,795 67,586 594 1999 1999 SIC Kind of business code Mar(r) Feb(r) Retail trade, total........... 243,545 242,173 Total (excl. auto dealers). 183,088 181,932 Durable goods, total........ 102,217 102,061 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,031 15,378 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 11,412 11,494 525 Hardware stores................. 1,314 1,318 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 60,457 60,241 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 57,262 57,042 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,195 3,199 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,400 13,224 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,242 6,164 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 6,131 6,031 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 141,328 140,112 53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,365 31,039 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,590 24,370 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 25,031 24,871 533 Variety stores.................. 1,094 1,084 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,681 5,585 54 Food stores....................... 37,906 37,807 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,901 35,804 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,971 13,617 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,154 11,081 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 939 918 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ 3,078 3,016 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,752 1,786 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,213 23,288 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,672 9,589 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,191 2,197 5961 Total mail order................... 6,694 6,712 53,56,57, GAF................................ 64,574 63,914 594 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.
TABLE 1B. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--March 2000
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2000 2000 2000 SIC Kind of business Mar Feb Jan code adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 271,842 245,188 230,076 Total (excl. auto dealers). 197,877 178,671 171,966 Durable goods, total........ 117,430 105,705 94,927 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,415 12,312 11,523 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,844 9,231 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 998 1,033 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 73,965 66,517 58,110 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 70,389 63,471 55,193 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 54,421 47,732 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,046 2,917 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 14,262 13,648 13,464 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,283 5,999 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,442 6,565 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 906 899 Nondurable goods, total..... 154,412 139,483 135,149 53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,377 27,488 25,676 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,121 21,140 19,845 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 21,536 20,213 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,109 918 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,239 4,913 54 Food stores....................... 39,880 36,766 37,520 541 Grocery stores.................. 37,775 34,752 35,633 554 Gasoline service stations......... 17,958 15,850 15,160 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,333 9,162 8,168 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 741 767 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ (*) 2,488 2,144 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,466 3,132 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,496 1,307 58 Eating and drinking places........ 26,108 23,843 22,992 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,594 9,966 9,908 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,061 2,003 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,441 7,412 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 58,034 54,276 594 1999 1999 SIC Kind of business code Mar Feb Retail trade, total........... 244,435 212,492 Total (excl. auto dealers). 178,427 157,085 Durable goods, total........ 105,523 89,961 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,526 11,665 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 11,150 8,919 525 Hardware stores................. 1,206 1,000 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 66,008 55,407 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 62,759 52,707 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 53,855 45,269 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,249 2,700 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,006 11,773 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,155 5,461 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,886 5,410 5722 Household appliance stores.... 906 784 Nondurable goods, total..... 138,912 122,531 53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,160 25,028 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,770 19,496 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,193 19,849 533 Variety stores.................. 1,056 913 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,334 4,619 54 Food stores....................... 37,689 34,138 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,686 32,331 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,594 11,833 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,587 8,449 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 818 701 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ 2,955 2,331 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,976 3,157 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,784 1,450 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,329 21,169 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,982 9,081 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,040 1,848 5961 Total mail order................... 6,888 5,779 53,56,57, GAF................................ 60,110 52,149 594 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.
TABLE 1C. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--March 2000
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 3 month total Change SIC Kind of business 2000 from code 1999 Retail trade, total........... 747,106 12.1 Total (excl. auto dealers). 548,514 11.0 Durable goods, total........ 318,062 13.5 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 39,250 5.9 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) (*) 525 Hardware stores................. (*) (*) 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 198,592 15.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 189,053 15.5 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (*) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) (*) 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 41,374 12.0 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) (*) 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) (*) 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (*) Nondurable goods, total..... 429,044 11.1 53 General merchandise group stores.. 84,541 7.9 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 65,106 6.9 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) (*) 533 Variety stores.................. (*) (*) 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) (*) 54 Food stores....................... 114,166 5.5 541 Grocery stores.................. 108,160 5.4 554 Gasoline service stations......... 48,968 29.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 28,663 5.9 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) (*) 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ (*) (*) 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (*) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) (*) 58 Eating and drinking places........ 72,943 11.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 30,468 7.9 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) (*) 5961 Total mail order................... (*) (*) 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) (*) 594 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.
TABLE 2. PERCENT CHANGE IN ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--March 2000
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar Feb 2000 2000 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb Mar Jan Feb CODE 2000 1999 2000 1999 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.4 +10.5 +1.8 +10.8 Total (excl. auto dealers). +1.4 +10.3 +1.8 +9.5 Durable goods, total........ -0.9 +10.7 +1.5 +11.9 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +3.8 +6.3 -1.5 0.0 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -2.6 +11.1 +1.8 +14.5 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -2.8 +11.2 +1.8 +14.8 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.4 +9.5 +1.7 +11.4 Nondurable goods, total..... +1.3 +10.4 +2.0 +10.0 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.7 +6.4 +0.5 +6.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.2 +4.9 +0.2 +5.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.1 +5.6 54 Food stores....................... +0.5 +4.8 +2.0 +4.6 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.5 +4.7 +2.1 +4.5 554 Gasoline service stations......... +4.0 +31.2 +6.8 +29.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +2.3 +7.4 +3.4 +5.7 58 Eating and drinking places........ +1.6 +10.7 +0.5 +8.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +2.1 +7.2 -0.5 +5.8 Not Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar Feb 2000 2000 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb Mar Jan Feb CODE 2000 1999 2000 1999 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +10.9 +11.2 +6.6 +15.4 Total (excl. auto group).. +10.7 +10.9 +3.9 +13.7 Durable goods, total........ +11.1 +11.3 +11.4 +17.5 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +25.2 +6.1 +6.8 +5.5 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +11.2 +12.1 +14.5 +20.1 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +10.9 +12.2 +15.0 +20.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +4.5 +9.7 +1.4 +15.9 Nondurable goods, total..... +10.7 +11.2 +3.2 +13.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. +14.1 +7.6 +7.1 +9.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +14.1 +5.9 +6.5 +8.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +6.5 +8.5 54 Food stores....................... +8.5 +5.8 -2.0 +7.7 541 Grocery stores.................. +8.7 +5.9 -2.5 +7.5 554 Gasoline service stations......... +13.3 +32.1 +4.6 +33.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +23.7 +7.0 +12.2 +8.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ +9.5 +11.9 +3.7 +12.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +6.3 +6.1 +0.6 +9.7 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE:Advance Monthly Retail Sales--March 2000 (Press Release available without charge from Public Information Office, Bureau of the Census Washington, D.C. 20233). Survey methodology and measures of sampling variability are documented in the Advance Press Release. Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2713/2666.
Estimates of sampling variability are given in Table 3. They are based on two components. The first component is a measure of the average difference between the Advance and the Preliminary estimates. The second reflects the variability of the Preliminary estimate. Additionally, both the Advance and the full survey are subject to nonsampling errors. Such errors can occur because of nonresponse, insufficient coverage of the universe of retail businesses, and response errors, among others. Precautionary steps are taken to minimize these errors, but their magnitude is not directly measured.
Preliminary estimates for the current month and final estimates for the previous month based on the full sample are published next month in the Monthly Retail Trade Report. This report will provide sales estimates in greater detail and additional measures of sampling variability. It will also present a description of revisions and the techniques used in developing the estimates, and an explanation of confidence intervals and sampling variability (Appendix B, Reliability of Data).
(2) ---- These columns measure the difference between the Advance/Preliminary ratio and the Preliminary/Final ratio estimates -- i.e., the difference between estimates of trend for the same pair of data months. The revisions for Retail trade total are based on the latest 12 months of data.
4th Quarter 1999 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
