FOR WIRE TRANSMISION 8:30 A.M. ET., Friday, November 12, 1999CB-99-216
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for October adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $252.5 billion, unchanged (±0.7%) from the previous month and up 8.5 percent (±0.9%) from October 1998. Total sales for the August through October period were up 9.8 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The August to September 1999 percent change was revised from +0.1 percent (±0.7%) to -0.1 percent (±0.3%).
Durable goods decreased 0.6 percent (±1.4%) from September but were 8.1 percent above last year. Automotive sales were up 8.7 percent from October a year ago, while building materials sales were up 8.3 percent during the same period.
Nondurable goods increased 0.4 percent (±0.6%) from September and were up 8.8 percent from October 1998. Gasoline sales were up 18.0 percent from October a year ago, while drug store sales were up 12.0 percent during the same period.
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--OCTOBER 1999
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Millions of Dollars)
1999
SIC Kind of business
code Oct. Sep. Aug.
adv. prel. final
Retail trade, total........... 252,540 252,549 252,768
Total (excl. auto dealers). 190,252 189,222 188,153
Durable goods, total........ 104,945 105,583 106,764
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,180 14,919 15,114
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,399 11,647
525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,274 1,275
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 62,288 63,327 64,615
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 59,092 60,132 61,407
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA)
553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,195 3,208
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 13,883 14,010 13,759
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,562 6,441
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ (*) 6,403 6,277
5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA)
Nondurable goods, total..... 147,595 146,966 146,004
53 General merchandise group stores.. 32,140 32,182 31,882
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 25,100 25,121 24,865
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 25,638 25,358
533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,164 1,159
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,897 5,858
54 Food stores....................... 38,973 38,731 38,499
541 Grocery stores.................. 37,023 36,736 36,517
554 Gasoline service stations......... 15,808 15,761 15,449
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,375 11,269 11,379
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... (*) 943 978
562,3 Women's clothing, accessory
stores........................ (*) 2,986 3,048
565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA)
566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,751 1,792
58 Eating and drinking places........ 24,034 23,844 23,702
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,200 10,058 9,976
592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,324 2,269
5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,497 7,508
53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 66,057 65,569
594
1998
SIC Kind of business
code Oct.(r) Sep.(r)
Retail trade, total........... 232,794 229,505
Total (excl. auto dealers). 175,516 174,094
Durable goods, total........ 97,115 94,797
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,022 13,881
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 10,595 10,557
525 Hardware stores................. 1,227 1,266
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 57,278 55,411
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 54,148 52,310
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA)
553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,130 3,101
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 12,872 12,787
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,007 5,930
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ 5,805 5,820
5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA)
Nondurable goods, total..... 135,679 134,708
53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,779 29,555
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,402 23,219
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,826 23,707
533 Variety stores.................. 990 958
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,387 5,378
54 Food stores....................... 36,869 36,716
541 Grocery stores.................. 34,893 34,737
554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,399 13,364
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,595 10,403
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... 918 917
562,3 Women's clothing, accessory
stores........................ 2,805 2,797
565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA)
566 Shoe stores..................... 1,781 1,709
58 Eating and drinking places........ 22,704 22,404
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,106 9,044
592 Liquor stores..................... 2,123 2,110
5961 Total mail order................... 6,225 6,229
53,56,57, GAF................................ 61,523 61,006
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--OCTOBER 1999
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Millions of Dollars)
1999
SIC Kind of business
code Oct. Sep. Aug.
adv. prel. final
Retail trade, total........... 249,941 245,626 256,823
Total (excl. auto dealers). 189,419 182,599 188,904
Durable goods, total........ 102,067 104,199 110,798
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,696 15,541 16,011
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,946 12,474
525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,275 1,295
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 60,522 63,027 67,919
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 57,201 59,771 64,477
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 51,786 55,685
553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,256 3,442
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 13,397 13,437 13,738
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,431 6,512
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ (*) 6,000 6,252
5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 944 969
Nondurable goods, total..... 147,874 141,427 146,025
53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,213 29,251 30,845
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,272 22,684 24,044
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 23,110 24,507
533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,077 1,089
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,490 5,712
54 Food stores....................... 39,029 38,310 38,544
541 Grocery stores.................. 37,097 36,405 36,590
554 Gasoline service stations......... 16,172 15,808 16,500
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,307 10,748 12,022
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... (*) 859 938
562,3 Women's clothing, accessory
stores........................ (*) 2,825 2,920
565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,211 4,754
566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,676 2,136
58 Eating and drinking places........ 24,611 23,439 24,934
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,965 9,545 9,627
592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,224 2,235
5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,257 6,750
53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 61,026 64,786
594
1998
SIC Kind of business
code Oct. Sep.
Retail trade, total........... 234,928 222,104
Total (excl. auto dealers). 177,226 167,160
Durable goods, total........ 97,193 93,393
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,867 14,548
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 11,453 11,148
525 Hardware stores................. 1,268 1,260
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 57,702 54,944
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 54,365 51,787
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 47,027 44,866
553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,337 3,157
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 12,639 12,251
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,145 5,800
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ 5,503 5,465
5722 Household appliance stores.... 911 872
Nondurable goods, total..... 137,735 128,711
53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,271 26,500
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,864 20,665
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,324 21,079
533 Variety stores.................. 1,015 860
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,392 4,975
54 Food stores....................... 37,388 35,967
541 Grocery stores.................. 35,416 34,077
554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,841 13,404
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,816 9,778
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... 945 820
562,3 Women's clothing, accessory
stores........................ 2,833 2,618
565 Family clothing stores.......... 4,339 3,717
566 Shoe stores..................... 1,708 1,624
58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,385 21,978
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,033 8,556
592 Liquor stores..................... 2,148 2,011
5961 Total mail order................... 6,835 6,086
53,56,57, GAF................................ 60,159 55,848
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--OCTOBER 1999
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Percent Change)
Oct. Sep.
1999 1999
adv. prel.
from-- from--
SIC Kind of business Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep.
CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998
Prel. Final Final Final
Retail trade, total........... 0.0 +8.5 -0.1 +10.0
Total (excl. auto dealers). +0.5 +8.4 +0.6 +8.7
Durable goods, total........ -0.6 +8.1 -1.1 +11.4
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. +1.7 +8.3 -1.3 +7.5
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -1.6 +8.7 -2.0 +14.3
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -1.7 +9.1 -2.1 +15.0
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. -0.9 +7.9 +1.8 +9.6
Nondurable goods, total..... +0.4 +8.8 +0.7 +9.1
53 General merchandise group stores.. -0.1 +7.9 +0.9 +8.9
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -0.1 +7.3 +1.0 +8.2
531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.1 +8.1
54 Food stores....................... +0.6 +5.7 +0.6 +5.5
541 Grocery stores.................. +0.8 +6.1 +0.6 +5.8
554 Gasoline service stations......... +0.3 +18.0 +2.0 +17.9
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.9 +7.4 -1.0 +8.3
58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.8 +5.9 +0.6 +6.4
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.4 +12.0 +0.8 +11.2
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Percent Change)
Oct. Sep.
1999 1999
adv. prel.
from-- from--
SIC Kind of business Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep.
CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998
Prel. Final Final Final
Retail trade, total........... +1.8 +6.4 -4.4 +10.6
Total (excl. auto dealers). +3.7 +6.9 -3.3 +9.2
Durable goods, total........ -2.0 +5.0 -6.0 +11.6
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. +1.0 +5.6 -2.9 +6.8
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -4.0 +4.9 -7.2 +14.7
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -4.3 +5.2 -7.3 +15.4
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. -0.3 +6.0 -2.2 +9.7
Nondurable goods, total..... +4.6 +7.4 -3.1 +9.9
53 General merchandise group stores.. +6.7 +6.6 -5.2 +10.4
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +7.0 +6.2 -5.7 +9.8
531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -5.7 +9.6
54 Food stores....................... +1.9 +4.4 -0.6 +6.5
541 Grocery stores.................. +1.9 +4.7 -0.5 +6.8
554 Gasoline service stations......... +2.3 +16.8 -4.2 +17.9
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +5.2 +4.5 -10.6 +9.9
58 Eating and drinking places........ +5.0 +5.2 -6.0 +6.6
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +4.4 +10.3 -0.9 +11.6
NA Not available.
SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--OCTOBER 1999 (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 while all other kinds of business are based on the preceding 12 months.
