CB-99-112FOR WIRE TRANSMISION 8:30 A.M. ET., Friday, June 11, 1999
************************************************************************************************************************* INTENTION TO REVISE ESTIMATES. Monthly retail sales estimates will be revised based on the results of the 1997 Annual Retail Trade Survey, which reflects the preliminary 1997 Census of Retail Trade data. Unadjusted estimates will be revised for the months of January 1993 through June 1999, while the corresponding adjusted data will be revised for January 1990 through June 1999. Revised data are scheduled for release the week of July 26. *************************************************************************************************************************
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for May adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $242.2 billion, an increase of 1.0 percent (±0.7%) from the previous month and up 7.8 percent (±0.9%) from May 1998. Total sales for the March through May period were up 8.0 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The March to April 1999 percent change was revised from +0.1 percent (±0.7%) to +0.4 percent (±0.3%).
Durable goods increased 1.8 percent (±1.4%) from April and were 8.9 percent above last year. Building materials were up 11.6 percent from May a year ago, while furniture sales were up 9.1 percent during the same period.
Nondurable goods increased 0.3 percent (±0.6%) from last month and were up 6.9 percent from May 1998. Drug store sales were up 11.8 percent from May a year ago.
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--MAY 1999
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Millions of Dollars)
1999
SIC Kind of business
code May Apr. Mar.
adv. prel. final
Retail trade, total........... 242,239 239,918 239,026
Total (excl. auto group).. 181,786 180,968 179,609
Durable goods, total........ 103,145 101,297 101,652
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,397 15,477 15,241
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,849 11,755
525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,396 1,385
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 60,453 58,950 59,417
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 57,041 55,524 56,042
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA)
553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,426 3,375
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 14,242 14,088 14,090
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,675 6,704
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ (*) 6,439 6,403
5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA)
Nondurable goods, total..... 139,094 138,621 137,374
53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,781 31,505 31,608
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,859 24,661 24,794
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 25,032 25,171
533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,157 1,139
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,687 5,675
54 Food stores....................... 38,360 38,090 38,262
541 Grocery stores.................. 35,884 35,638 35,829
554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,350 13,455 12,806
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,183 11,124 10,917
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... (*) 1,050 979
562,3 Women's clothing, specialty
stores........................ (*) 2,897 2,845
565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA)
566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,764 1,725
58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,824 21,816 21,569
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,762 9,706 9,609
592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,259 2,188
5961 Total mail order................... (*) 5,169 5,026
53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 65,425 65,360
594
1998
SIC Kind of business
code May (r) Apr.(r)
Retail trade, total........... 224,801 222,739
Total (excl. auto group).. 168,981 167,615
Durable goods, total........ 94,737 93,686
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,794 13,702
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 10,391 10,424
525 Hardware stores................. 1,261 1,279
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 55,820 55,124
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 52,570 51,920
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA)
553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,250 3,204
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 13,059 12,952
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,270 6,291
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ 5,819 5,689
5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA)
Nondurable goods, total..... 130,064 129,053
53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,312 29,191
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,170 23,070
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,571 23,513
533 Variety stores.................. 970 951
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,172 5,170
54 Food stores....................... 36,795 36,649
541 Grocery stores.................. 34,430 34,259
554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,556 12,420
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,382 10,412
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... 958 974
562,3 Women's clothing, specialty
stores........................ 2,646 2,678
565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA)
566 Shoe stores..................... 1,744 1,733
58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,452 20,218
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,730 8,670
592 Liquor stores..................... 2,056 2,039
5961 Total mail order................... 4,671 4,491
53,56,57, GAF................................ 61,182 60,818
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--MAY 1999
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Millions of Dollars)
1999
SIC Kind of business
code May Apr. Mar.
adv. prel. final
Retail trade, total........... 249,018 238,086 239,909
Total (excl. auto group).. 184,426 175,677 174,624
Durable goods, total........ 108,228 103,591 105,007
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 17,845 16,979 14,586
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 12,714 11,402
525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,474 1,258
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 64,592 62,409 65,285
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 61,091 58,911 61,870
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 49,427 52,629
553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,498 3,415
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 13,430 12,827 13,677
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,308 6,597
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ (*) 5,673 6,160
5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 868 884
Nondurable goods, total..... 140,790 134,495 134,902
53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,761 29,222 29,336
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,784 22,885 22,910
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 23,249 23,255
533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,082 1,097
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,255 5,329
54 Food stores....................... 39,305 37,422 38,107
541 Grocery stores.................. 36,817 34,997 35,686
554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,897 13,388 12,550
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,937 10,577 10,330
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... (*) 991 858
562,3 Women's clothing, specialty
stores........................ (*) 2,842 2,720
565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,970 3,923
566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,764 1,754
58 Eating and drinking places........ 22,893 21,991 21,612
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,830 9,609 9,888
592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,157 2,033
5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,843 5,157
53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 59,993 60,794
594
1998
SIC Kind of business
code May Apr.
Retail trade, total........... 232,369 221,166
Total (excl. auto group).. 172,197 163,229
Durable goods, total........ 100,113 95,261
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. 16,158 14,903
521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 11,700 11,070
525 Hardware stores................. 1,445 1,345
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 60,172 57,937
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 56,828 54,672
551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 48,222 46,383
553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,344 3,265
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. 12,298 11,787
571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,157 5,932
5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV,
and computer stores............ 5,260 5,012
5722 Household appliance stores.... 895 817
Nondurable goods, total..... 132,256 125,905
53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,373 27,565
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,193 21,778
531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,617 22,197
533 Variety stores.................. 956 922
539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,224 4,865
54 Food stores....................... 37,981 36,152
541 Grocery stores.................. 35,566 33,745
554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,171 12,283
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,152 10,127
561 Men's and boys' clothing
and furnishings stores......... 927 930
562,3 Women's clothing, specialty
stores........................ 2,752 2,694
565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,791 3,723
566 Shoe stores..................... 1,822 1,818
58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,700 20,178
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,765 8,670
592 Liquor stores..................... 2,097 1,925
5961 Total mail order................... 4,185 4,141
53,56,57, GAF................................ 59,544 56,527
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--MAY 1999
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Percent Change)
May Apr.
1999 1999
adv. prel.
from-- from--
SIC Kind of business Apr. May Mar. Apr.
CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998
Prel. Final Final Final
Retail trade, total........... +1.0 +7.8 +0.4 +7.7
Total (excl. auto group).. +0.5 +7.6 +0.8 +8.0
Durable goods, total........ +1.8 +8.9 -0.3 +8.1
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.5 +11.6 +1.5 +13.0
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +2.5 +8.3 -0.8 +6.9
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.7 +8.5 -0.9 +6.9
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. +1.1 +9.1 0.0 +8.8
Nondurable goods, total..... +0.3 +6.9 +0.9 +7.4
53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.9 +8.4 -0.3 +7.9
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.8 +7.3 -0.5 +6.9
531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -0.6 +6.5
54 Food stores....................... +0.7 +4.3 -0.4 +3.9
541 Grocery stores.................. +0.7 +4.2 -0.5 +4.0
554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.8 +6.3 +5.1 +8.3
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.5 +7.7 +1.9 +6.8
58 Eating and drinking places........ 0.0 +6.7 +1.1 +7.9
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.6 +11.8 +1.0 +11.9
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences
(Percent Change)
May Apr.
1999 1999
adv. prel.
from-- from--
SIC Kind of business Apr. May Mar. Apr.
CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998
Prel. Final Final Final
Retail trade, total........... +4.6 +7.2 -0.8 +7.7
Total (excl. auto group).. +5.0 +7.1 +0.6 +7.6
Durable goods, total........ +4.5 +8.1 -1.3 +8.7
52 Building mat., hardware, garden
supply, and mobile home dealers.. +5.1 +10.4 +16.4 +13.9
55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +3.5 +7.3 -4.4 +7.7
551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous
6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +3.7 +7.5 -4.8 +7.8
57 Furniture, home furnishings, and
equipment stores................. +4.7 +9.2 -6.2 +8.8
Nondurable goods, total..... +4.7 +6.5 -0.3 +6.8
53 General merchandise group stores.. +8.7 +8.1 -0.4 +6.0
531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +8.3 +6.9 -0.1 +5.1
531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) .0 +4.7
54 Food stores....................... +5.0 +3.5 -1.8 +3.5
541 Grocery stores.................. +5.2 +3.5 -1.9 +3.7
554 Gasoline service stations......... +3.8 +5.5 +6.7 +9.0
56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +3.4 +7.7 +2.4 +4.4
58 Eating and drinking places........ +4.1 +5.5 +1.8 +9.0
591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +2.3 +12.2 -2.8 +10.8
NA Not available.
SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MAY 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. Ronald Piencykoski
(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.
