ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - MARCH 1997 INTENTION TO REVISE ESTIMATES. The annual revision of the monthly retail sales estimates will be published in the press release the week of April 28. The estimates will be revised for the months of January 1993 through March 1997. 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 $215.6 billion, an increase of 0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 5.7 percent (+/-1.0%) from March 1996. Total sales for the first quarter were 6.2 percent (+/-0.7%) above the same quarter a year ago. The January 1997 to February 1997 percent change was revised from +0.8 percent (+/-0.7%) to +1.5 percent (+/-0.5%). Durable goods increased 0.1 percent (+/-1.4%) from February and were 6.4 percent above March 1996. Nondurable goods increased 0.3 percent (+/-0.7%) from February and were 5.3 percent above March 1996. 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. The Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for April is scheduled to be released May 13, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 215,569 215,136 211,957 Total (excl. auto group).. 162,014 161,247 159,789 Durable goods, total........ 89,276 89,225 86,517 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,861 11,670 11,416 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,051 8,769 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,247 1,257 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,555 53,889 52,168 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,567 50,853 49,106 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,036 3,062 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,927 11,904 11,517 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,028 5,868 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,025 4,799 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 126,293 125,911 125,440 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,490 27,408 27,060 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,640 21,495 21,169 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 21,632 21,354 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 773 732 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,140 5,159 54 Food stores....................... 36,168 35,971 35,930 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,158 33,936 33,951 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,390 13,497 13,652 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,730 9,668 9,643 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 866 889 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,781 2,806 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,697 1,597 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,470 20,491 20,508 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,015 7,951 7,829 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,026 1,981 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,117 4,011 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 57,442 56,446 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Mar.(r) Feb.(r) Retail trade, total........... 203,869 202,425 Total (excl. auto group).. 152,794 151,689 Durable goods, total........ 83,887 82,752 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,560 10,442 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,197 8,000 525 Hardware stores................. 1,137 1,197 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,075 50,736 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,004 47,703 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,071 3,033 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,409 11,076 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,634 5,453 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,845 4,708 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 119,982 119,673 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,316 25,382 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,659 19,756 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,017 20,019 533 Variety stores.................. 688 665 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,969 4,961 54 Food stores....................... 34,924 34,805 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,071 32,979 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,985 12,580 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,245 9,536 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 829 849 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,625 2,798 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,587 1,595 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,789 19,813 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,311 7,154 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,956 1,938 5961 Total mail order................... 3,909 3,963 53,56,57, GAF................................ 53,839 53,679 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1997 (Press Release available without charge from Public Information Office, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233). Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Ronald Piencykoski (301) 457-2713/2666. TABLE 1B: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1997 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 212,867 185,606 187,656 Total (excl. auto group).. 156,698 137,025 141,224 Durable goods, total........ 88,948 76,934 75,056 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,995 8,747 8,771 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 6,960 6,875 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 934 1,056 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 56,169 48,581 46,432 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 53,247 46,022 43,704 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 39,642 38,398 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,559 2,728 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,414 10,255 10,652 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,142 5,299 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,382 4,583 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 632 673 Nondurable goods, total..... 123,919 108,672 112,600 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,316 21,147 20,547 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,887 16,422 15,792 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 16,671 16,031 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 608 540 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,117 4,215 54 Food stores....................... 36,297 32,477 35,233 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,329 30,678 33,442 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,988 11,850 12,737 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,477 7,158 6,911 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 673 737 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,100 1,992 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,563 2,512 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,298 1,158 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,490 18,278 18,724 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,167 7,458 7,743 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,686 1,747 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,409 3,790 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 45,118 44,633 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Retail trade, total........... 201,334 181,901 Total (excl. auto group).. 147,447 134,156 Durable goods, total........ 83,755 74,500 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,671 8,151 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,574 6,440 525 Hardware stores................. 1,048 934 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,887 47,745 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,884 45,079 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 44,162 39,527 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,003 2,666 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,883 9,891 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,420 4,826 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,583 4,247 5722 Household appliance stores.... 664 593 Nondurable goods, total..... 117,579 107,401 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,129 20,413 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 17,949 15,706 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,326 16,037 533 Variety stores.................. 628 555 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,552 4,152 54 Food stores....................... 35,079 32,674 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,269 31,000 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,660 11,435 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,796 7,352 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 742 684 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,557 2,194 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,221 2,646 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,587 1,279 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,106 18,347 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,355 6,961 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,860 1,674 5961 Total mail order................... 3,749 3,388 53,56,57, GAF................................ 49,331 43,827 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1997 (Press Release available without charge from Public Information Office, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233). Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Ronald Piencykoski (301) 457-2713/2666. TABLE 2: PERCENT CHANGE IN ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.2 +5.7 +1.5 +6.3 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.5 +6.0 +0.9 +6.3 Durable goods, total........ +0.1 +6.4 +3.1 +7.8 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +1.6 +12.3 +2.2 +11.8 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.6 +4.9 +3.3 +6.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.6 +5.3 +3.6 +6.6 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.2 +4.5 +3.4 +7.5 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.3 +5.3 +0.4 +5.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.3 +8.6 +1.3 +8.0 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.7 +10.1 +1.5 +8.8 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.3 +8.1 54 Food stores....................... +0.5 +3.6 +0.1 +3.4 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.7 +3.3 0.0 +2.9 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.8 +3.1 -1.1 +7.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.6 +5.2 +0.3 +1.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.1 +3.4 -0.1 +3.4 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.8 +9.6 +1.6 +11.1 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +14.7 +5.7 -1.1 +2.0 Total (excl. auto group).. +14.4 +6.3 -3.0 +2.1 Durable goods, total........ +15.6 +6.2 +2.5 +3.3 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +25.7 +13.7 -0.3 +7.3 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +15.6 +4.2 +4.6 +1.8 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +15.7 +4.6 +5.3 +2.1 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +11.3 +4.9 -3.7 +3.7 Nondurable goods, total..... +14.0 +5.4 -3.5 +1.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +19.7 +9.5 +2.9 +3.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +21.1 +10.8 +4.0 +4.6 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +4.0 +4.0 54 Food stores....................... +11.8 +3.5 -7.8 -0.6 541 Grocery stores.................. +11.9 +3.2 -8.3 -1.0 554 Gasoline service stations......... +9.6 +2.6 -7.0 +3.6 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +32.4 +7.7 +3.6 -2.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ +12.1 +1.9 -2.4 -0.4 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +9.5 +11.0 -3.7 +7.1 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1997 (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.