****************************************************************************** INTENTION TO REVISE ESTIMATES. The annual revision of the monthly retail sales estimates will be published in the press release the week of April 27. Unadjusted estimates will be revised for the months of January 1993 through March 1998, while corresponding adjusted data will be revised for January 1990 through March 1998. ****************************************************************************** ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - FEBRUARY 1998 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for February adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $218.1 billion, an increase of 0.5 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 2.5 percent (+/-0.9%) from February 1997. Total sales for the December through February period were up 3.4 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The December 1997 to January 1998 percent change was revised from the +0.1 percent (+/-0.7%) to +1.0 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods increased 0.5 percent (+/-1.4%) from January and were 3.3 percent above last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.5 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 2.0 percent above last year. 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 March is scheduled to be released April 14, 1998 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--FEBRUARY 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 1997 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Dec. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 218,051 216,955 214,898 Total (excl. auto group).. 165,105 164,051 161,870 Durable goods, total........ 90,708 90,228 89,031 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,741 12,490 12,053 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,503 9,305 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,238 1,229 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,946 52,904 53,028 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 49,984 50,016 50,136 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,888 2,892 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,552 12,603 12,198 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,308 6,265 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,350 5,007 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 127,343 126,727 125,867 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,908 28,545 27,921 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,920 22,635 22,171 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 22,802 22,524 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 747 704 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,163 5,046 54 Food stores....................... 36,072 35,996 36,166 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,886 33,831 34,018 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,322 12,459 12,708 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,116 9,986 9,784 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 944 889 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,798 2,763 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,669 1,664 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,651 20,574 20,536 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,530 8,498 8,351 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,043 2,097 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,712 4,345 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 59,361 57,957 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Feb.(r) Jan.(r) Retail trade, total........... 212,655 209,307 Total (excl. auto group).. 159,962 158,468 Durable goods, total........ 87,813 85,061 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,932 11,595 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,151 8,843 525 Hardware stores................. 1,295 1,311 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,693 50,839 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 49,731 47,827 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,962 3,012 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,593 11,244 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,896 5,750 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,826 4,644 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 124,842 124,246 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,215 27,056 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,321 21,269 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 21,780 21,534 533 Variety stores.................. 788 735 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,106 5,052 54 Food stores....................... 35,825 35,841 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,777 33,824 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,291 13,400 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,728 9,566 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 886 882 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,811 2,800 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,716 1,595 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,421 20,213 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,048 7,906 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,952 1,925 5961 Total mail order................... 4,216 4,047 53,56,57, GAF................................ 56,797 55,910 594 * 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--FEBRUARY 1998 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 1997 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Dec. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 188,639 192,854 257,020 Total (excl. auto group).. 141,109 145,890 209,406 Durable goods, total........ 78,055 78,078 97,673 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,505 9,515 11,078 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 7,393 8,328 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,066 1,310 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 47,530 46,964 47,614 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,036 44,414 44,872 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 39,247 39,820 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,550 2,742 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,920 11,692 17,275 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,772 7,606 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,072 7,936 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 800 1,031 Nondurable goods, total..... 110,584 114,776 159,347 53 General merchandise group stores.. 22,949 22,111 46,635 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,015 17,157 37,890 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 17,389 38,432 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 555 1,206 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,399 7,539 54 Food stores....................... 32,551 35,606 38,964 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,599 33,662 36,161 554 Gasoline service stations......... 10,868 11,699 12,581 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 7,587 7,402 15,929 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 821 1,645 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,065 4,515 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,674 6,578 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,240 2,156 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,503 19,134 20,351 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,027 8,388 10,347 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,849 2,816 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,396 6,704 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 47,803 97,292 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Retail trade, total........... 183,530 186,064 Total (excl. auto group).. 136,278 140,539 Durable goods, total........ 75,424 74,051 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 8,870 8,859 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 6,964 6,862 525 Hardware stores................. 978 1,113 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 47,252 45,525 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 44,758 42,853 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 39,122 38,051 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,494 2,672 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 9,933 10,390 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,000 5,227 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,179 4,398 5722 Household appliance stores.... 692 740 Nondurable goods, total..... 108,106 112,013 53 General merchandise group stores.. 21,355 20,783 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 16,588 15,994 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 16,831 16,229 533 Variety stores.................. 621 545 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,146 4,244 54 Food stores....................... 32,328 35,132 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,501 33,317 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,723 12,529 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 7,202 6,957 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 686 751 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,136 2,030 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,532 2,480 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,299 1,161 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,277 18,576 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,565 7,827 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,620 1,702 5961 Total mail order................... 3,432 3,804 53,56,57, GAF................................ 44,884 44,565 594 * 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--FEBRUARY 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb. Jan. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan. Feb. Dec. Jan. CODE 1998 1997 1997 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.5 +2.5 +1.0 +3.7 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.6 +3.2 +1.3 +3.5 Durable goods, total........ +0.5 +3.3 +1.3 +6.1 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +2.0 +6.8 +3.6 +7.7 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +0.1 +0.5 -0.2 +4.1 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.1 +0.5 -0.2 +4.6 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.4 +8.3 +3.3 +12.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.5 +2.0 +0.7 +2.0 53 General merchandise group stores.. +1.3 +6.2 +2.2 +5.5 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +1.3 +7.5 +2.1 +6.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.2 +5.9 54 Food stores....................... +0.2 +0.7 -0.5 +0.4 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.2 +0.3 -0.5 0.0 554 Gasoline service stations......... -1.1 -7.3 -2.0 -7.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +1.3 +4.0 +2.1 +4.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.4 +1.1 +0.2 +1.8 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.4 +6.0 +1.8 +7.5 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb. Jan. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan. Feb. Dec. Jan. CODE 1998 1997 1997 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -2.2 +2.8 -25.0 +3.6 Total (excl. auto group).. -3.3 +3.5 -30.3 +3.8 Durable goods, total........ 0.0 +3.5 -20.1 +5.4 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.1 +7.2 -14.1 +7.4 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +1.2 +0.6 -1.4 +3.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +1.4 +0.6 -1.0 +3.6 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -6.6 +9.9 -32.3 +12.5 Nondurable goods, total..... -3.7 +2.3 -28.0 +2.5 53 General merchandise group stores.. +3.8 +7.5 -52.6 +6.4 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +5.0 +8.6 -54.7 +7.3 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -54.8 +7.1 54 Food stores....................... -8.6 +0.7 -8.6 +1.3 541 Grocery stores.................. -9.1 +0.3 -6.9 +1.0 554 Gasoline service stations......... -7.1 -7.3 -7.0 -6.6 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +2.5 +5.3 -53.5 +6.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ -3.3 +1.2 -6.0 +3.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -4.3 +6.1 -18.9 +7.2 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--FEBRUARY 1998 (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.