EMBARGOED UNTIL: 12:01 A.M. EDT, AUGUST 11, 2000 (FRIDAY) Public Information Office CB00-129 (301) 457-3030/301-457-3670 (fax) 301-457-1037 (TDD) e-mail: pio@census.gov Fay Dorsett 301-457-2687 Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses Account for Most Computer Hardware and Software Sales, Census Bureau Reports Electronic shopping and mail-order houses sold $22.9 billion in computer hardware, software and supplies in 1997, more than any other type of retail business, according to one of two new reports released today by the Commerce Department's Census Bureau. "In 1997, electronic shopping was not yet a significant segment of the industry we call 'electronic shopping and mail-order houses'," said Census Bureau analyst Paul Zeisset. "But that segment is growing, and we will identify electronic shopping and electronic auctions in categories separate from mail-order houses in 2002, the next time we take the economic census." Retail Trade: Merchandise Line Sales is the first in a series of reports from the 1997 Economic Census to explore the lines of goods sold or sources of receipts by industry type. Highlights: - Of the $56.4 billion in sales of computer hardware, software and supplies by all types of retailers, 41 percent were made by electronic shopping and mail-order houses. Conventional computer and software stores followed with 39 percent; radio, television, and other electronics stores, 12 percent; and office supplies and stationery stores, 5 percent. - Sales of all types of merchandise from the electronic shopping and mail-order houses totaled $79 billion in 1997. Computer hardware, software and supplies accounted for 29 percent; clothing and footwear, 15 percent; and drugs, health aids and beauty aids, 13 percent. - Sales of cigarettes, cigars, tobacco and smokers' accessories amounted to $37 billion in 1997. Of that total, 37 percent were sold by gasoline stations (including those with convenience stores); 24 percent by supermarkets and other grocery stores; 10 percent by warehouse clubs and superstores; 9 percent by convenience stores; and 7 percent by tobacco stores. Vending machines accounted for less than 1 percent of tobacco sales. The 1997 Economic Census is the first to identify casino hotels separately from other hotels, and the second report, Accommodation and Foodservices: Merchandise Line Sales, covers these businesses. Highlights: - Hotels and motels excluding casino hotels obtained 73 percent of their receipts from guestroom rentals in 1997, with meals and alcoholic beverages accounting for most of the rest. - Casino hotels depended on guestroom rentals for only 13 percent of their receipts, while 66 percent came from gaming (including casino games and slot machines). The data in these two reports are subject to sampling variability and nonsampling errors. Nonsampling errors arise from sources such as errors of response, nonreporting and inaccurate coverage. Information concerning survey design, methodology and data limitations are available in the full reports. While the main reports are confined to national data, the supporting databases provide data for each state and metropolitan area. Reports on wholesale trade and various service sectors will be issued over the next few months.-X-
