CB-01-194FOR WIRE TRANSMISSION 8:30 A.M. ET, Thursday, December 13, 2001.
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for November, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $293.6 billion, a decrease of 3.7 percent (±1.0%) from the previous month, but up 3.5 percent (±1.7%) from November 2000. Total sales for the September through November period were up 3.5 percent (±0.3%) from the same period a year ago. The September to October 2001 percent change was revised from 7.1 percent (±1.2%) to 6.4 percent (±0.3%).
Retail trade sales were down 4.1 percent (±1.0%) from October, but were 3.5 percent (±1.7%) above last year. Motor vehicle and parts dealers were up 11.2 percent (±3.5%) from last year and sales of health and personal care stores were up 8.5 percent (±3.6%) from November 2000. Sales of gasoline stations decreased 14.7 percent (±4.8%) from November a year ago and nonstore retailers were down 10.5 percent (±9.4%) from last year.
The advance estimates are based on a small subsample of the Bureau's full retail and food services 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 and Food Services 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 SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES--November 2001
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2001 2001 2001 2000 2000 NAICS Kind of business Nov Oct Sep code adv. prel. final Nov(r) Oct(r) Retail & food services, total.................... 293,584 304,851 286,416 283,616 285,215 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 217,922 218,963 217,254 215,552 215,977 Retail ....................................... 266,880 278,170 260,018 257,809 259,419 GAFO............................................. (*) 75,000 73,603 73,687 74,040 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 75,662 85,888 69,162 68,064 69,238 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 69,794 79,851 63,321 61,990 63,169 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 7,678 7,484 7,368 7,670 7,693 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 7,500 7,366 7,255 7,169 7,293 44311 Appl., T.V., & camera.......................... (*) 5,335 5,254 5,076 5,116 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,031 2,001 2,093 2,177 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 24,519 24,564 23,968 23,105 23,057 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 21,571 21,015 19,915 19,962 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 40,689 40,519 40,427 39,264 39,205 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 36,768 36,666 36,559 35,511 35,497 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 2,519 2,517 2,500 2,462 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 14,777 14,792 14,531 13,617 13,633 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 12,781 12,553 11,643 11,645 447 Gasoline stations................................ 17,671 18,854 20,532 20,723 20,888 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 14,074 14,165 13,347 14,182 14,362 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) 877 801 888 902 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 2,610 2,463 2,693 2,778 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 1,801 1,721 1,846 1,865 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 7,570 7,421 7,321 6,746 6,671 452 General merchandise stores....................... 34,998 35,018 34,764 34,359 34,351 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 19,748 19,461 19,391 19,828 19,884 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 15,557 15,373 14,531 14,467 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) 12,358 12,204 11,625 11,546 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 3,199 3,169 2,906 2,921 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 9,291 9,510 9,322 9,005 9,211 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 12,451 12,589 12,021 13,905 13,817 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 8,699 8,161 9,443 9,350 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 26,704 26,681 26,398 25,807 25,796 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.TABLE 1B. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES--November 2001
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 11 month total Change 2001 2001 2001 2000 2000 NAICS Kind of business 2001 from Nov Oct Sep code 2000 adv. prel. final Nov Oct Retail & food services, total.................... 3,162,777 3.4 296,315 303,788 272,299 285,240 279,838 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 2,351,895 2.8 226,842 217,812 206,389 223,248 212,475 Retail ....................................... 2,870,087 3.3 270,652 277,000 246,244 260,698 253,913 GAFO............................................. (*) (*) (*) 71,705 67,541 83,119 70,133 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 810,882 5.0 69,473 85,976 65,910 61,992 67,363 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 743,758 5.6 63,722 79,691 60,092 56,039 61,148 44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 70,601 52,006 48,793 53,164 4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 6,285 5,818 5,953 6,215 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 82,464 -0.7 8,400 7,671 7,147 8,383 7,731 4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,054 3,874 4,398 4,078 4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,617 3,273 3,985 3,653 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 75,557 -1.1 8,278 6,800 6,573 7,786 6,668 44311 Appl., T.V., & camera.......................... (*) (*) (*) 4,812 4,618 5,741 4,548 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 1,988 1,955 2,045 2,120 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 270,951 5.7 23,393 25,948 23,256 21,909 23,850 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 23,275 20,826 19,258 21,120 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 436,055 3.5 40,967 40,006 39,414 39,319 38,347 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 395,252 3.2 36,952 36,299 35,791 35,547 34,823 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,466 2,379 2,572 2,371 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 155,078 8.7 14,526 14,807 13,412 13,345 13,347 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 12,845 11,599 11,468 11,435 447 Gasoline stations................................ 221,094 -1.2 17,353 19,175 20,245 20,122 21,034 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 144,872 1.0 15,718 13,428 12,282 15,761 13,460 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 862 747 1,019 889 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 2,600 2,372 2,900 2,720 44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 4,700 4,263 5,840 4,666 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 1,632 1,633 1,791 1,677 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 73,599 9.0 8,266 6,642 6,777 7,255 5,882 452 General merchandise stores....................... 360,888 2.4 40,983 33,687 31,461 40,166 32,840 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 202,160 -0.3 23,945 18,395 17,281 23,816 18,789 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (*) (*) 18,734 17,598 24,335 19,184 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 15,292 14,180 16,350 14,051 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) (*) (*) 12,160 11,325 13,101 11,200 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 3,132 2,855 3,249 2,851 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 100,054 2.8 9,464 9,460 8,616 9,150 9,006 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 138,593 -3.6 13,831 13,400 11,151 15,510 14,385 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 9,377 7,777 10,860 9,883 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 292,690 4.5 25,663 26,788 26,055 24,542 25,925 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.TABLE 2. PERCENT CHANGE IN ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES--November 2001
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov Oct 2001 2001 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of business Oct Nov Sep Oct CODE 2001 2000 2001 2000 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... -3.7 +3.5 +6.4 +6.9 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... -0.5 +1.1 +0.8 +1.4 Retail .................................. -4.1 +3.5 +7.0 +7.2 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -11.9 +11.2 +24.2 +24.0 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... -12.6 +12.6 +26.1 +26.4 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +2.6 +0.1 +1.6 -2.7 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +1.8 +4.6 +1.5 +1.0 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -0.2 +6.1 +2.5 +6.5 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +0.4 +3.6 +0.2 +3.4 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.3 +3.5 +0.3 +3.3 446 Health & personal care stores.................... -0.1 +8.5 +1.8 +8.5 447 Gasoline stations................................ -6.3 -14.7 -8.2 -9.7 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... -0.6 -0.8 +6.1 -1.4 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +2.0 +12.2 +1.4 +11.2 452 General merchandise stores....................... -0.1 +1.9 +0.7 +1.9 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +1.5 -0.4 +0.4 -2.1 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... -2.3 +3.2 +2.0 +3.2 454 Nonstore retailers............................... -1.1 -10.5 +4.7 -8.9 722 Food services & drinking Places.................. +0.1 +3.5 +1.1 +3.4 Not Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov Oct 2001 2001 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of business Oct Nov Sep Oct CODE 2001 2000 2001 2000 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... -2.5 +3.9 +11.6 +8.6 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +4.1 +1.6 +5.5 +2.5 Retail .................................. -2.3 +3.8 +12.5 +9.1 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -19.2 +12.1 +30.4 +27.6 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................ -20.0 +13.7 +32.6 +30.3 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +9.5 +0.2 +7.3 -0.8 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +21.7 +6.3 +3.5 +2.0 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -9.8 +6.8 +11.6 +8.8 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +2.4 +4.2 +1.5 +4.3 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +1.8 +4.0 +1.4 +4.2 446 Health & personal care stores.................... -1.9 +8.8 +10.4 +10.9 447 Gasoline stations................................ -9.5 -13.8 -5.3 -8.8 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +17.1 -0.3 +9.3 -0.2 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +24.5 +13.9 -2.0 +12.9 452 General merchandise stores....................... +21.7 +2.0 +7.1 +2.6 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +30.2 +0.5 +6.4 -2.1 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... 0.0 +3.4 +9.8 +5.0 454 Nonstore retailers............................... +3.2 -10.8 +20.2 -6.8 722 Food services & drinking Places.................. -4.2 +4.6 +2.8 +3.3 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE:Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--NOVEMBER 2001 (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.
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 each survey. The margin of sampling error, as used on page 1, gives a range about the estimate which is a 90% confidence interval. If, for example, the trend estimate is +1.2% and the standard error is 0.9%, then the margin of sampling error is ±1.65 x 0.9% or ±1.5%, and the 90% confidence interval is -0.3% to +2.7%. If the interval contains 0, it is uncertain whether there was an increase or decrease. For monthly level, the coefficient of variation (CV) is given. The resulting confidence interval is the estimated value ± 1.65 × CV × (the estimated value). Estimates of sampling variability are given in Table 3. Estimates from 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. Additionally, estimates of sales prior to March 2001 have been restated from SIC-based estimates. The restatement methodology may have introduced additional nonsampling error. Precautionary steps are taken to minimize nonsampling 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 will be 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 Estimates). Reliability of Estimates
(2) Medians are based on the period February 2001 to present.
3rd Quarter 2001 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
