ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - SEPTEMBER 1999 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for September adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $253.4 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 10.5 percent (+/-0.9%) from September 1998. Total sales for July through September period were up 10.3 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The July to August 1999 percent change was revised from +1.2 percent (+/-0.7%) to +1.5 percent (+/-0.3%). Durable goods decreased 0.8 percent (+/-1.4%) from August but were 12.1 percent above last year. Automotive sales were up 15.7 percent from September a year ago, while building materials sales were up 8.6 percent during the same period. Nondurable goods increased 0.8 percent (+/-0.6%) from August and were up 9.4 percent from September 1998. Gasoline sales were up 18.2 percent from September a year ago, while drug store sales were up 11.4 percent during the same period. 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 October is scheduled to be released November 12, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--SEPTEMBER 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 SIC Kind of business code Sep. Aug. July adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 253,431 253,136 249,468 Total (excl. auto group).. 189,258 188,138 186,422 Durable goods, total........ 106,287 107,104 104,850 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,037 15,129 15,066 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,646 11,391 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,267 1,275 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 64,173 64,998 63,046 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 60,873 61,737 59,862 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,261 3,184 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,868 13,705 13,604 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,401 6,260 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,269 6,299 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 147,144 146,032 144,618 53 General merchandise group stores.. 32,274 31,957 31,790 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 25,240 24,943 24,868 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 25,314 25,265 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,158 1,132 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,856 5,790 54 Food stores....................... 38,826 38,483 38,289 541 Grocery stores.................. 36,793 36,499 36,282 554 Gasoline service stations......... 15,814 15,436 15,033 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,318 11,421 11,283 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 985 966 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 3,055 3,029 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,799 1,775 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,932 23,788 23,734 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,054 9,958 9,894 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,233 2,253 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,465 7,188 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 65,624 65,278 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Sep.(r) Aug.(r) Retail trade, total........... 229,361 228,098 Total (excl. auto group).. 173,912 173,852 Durable goods, total........ 94,819 93,522 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,842 13,726 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 10,527 10,359 525 Hardware stores................. 1,279 1,236 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 55,449 54,246 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 52,363 51,150 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,086 3,096 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,810 12,772 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,949 5,880 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,820 5,867 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 134,542 134,576 53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,508 29,338 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,167 23,131 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,667 23,609 533 Variety stores.................. 951 937 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,390 5,270 54 Food stores....................... 36,675 36,845 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,702 34,873 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,377 13,429 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,341 10,598 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 908 930 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,773 2,834 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,685 1,785 58 Eating and drinking places........ 22,381 22,153 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,025 9,016 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,117 2,086 5961 Total mail order................... 6,223 6,201 53,56,57, GAF................................ 60,901 60,930 594 * 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--SEPTEMBER 1999 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 SIC Kind of business code Sep. Aug. July adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 246,596 256,882 254,556 Total (excl. auto group).. 182,827 188,865 187,795 Durable goods, total........ 104,822 110,934 109,530 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,654 16,039 16,840 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 12,484 12,861 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,291 1,387 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 63,769 68,017 66,761 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 60,386 64,515 63,274 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 55,693 54,094 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,502 3,487 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,286 13,725 13,307 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,503 6,273 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,250 6,110 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 966 1,147 Nondurable goods, total..... 141,774 145,948 145,026 53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,409 30,845 29,630 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,867 24,045 22,903 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 24,507 23,343 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,090 1,082 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,710 5,645 54 Food stores....................... 38,447 38,522 40,284 541 Grocery stores.................. 36,499 36,572 38,277 554 Gasoline service stations......... 15,846 16,455 16,206 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,797 12,064 10,764 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 941 856 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,921 2,805 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,794 4,323 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 2,134 1,805 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,549 25,025 25,372 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,561 9,619 9,666 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,195 2,436 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 6,696 6,268 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 64,808 61,390 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Sep. Aug. Retail trade, total........... 222,104 231,685 Total (excl. auto group).. 167,160 175,613 Durable goods, total........ 93,393 95,851 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,548 14,329 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 11,148 10,918 525 Hardware stores................. 1,260 1,273 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 54,944 56,072 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 51,787 52,787 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 44,866 45,304 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,157 3,285 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,251 12,813 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,800 5,992 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,465 5,844 5722 Household appliance stores.... 872 946 Nondurable goods, total..... 128,711 135,834 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,500 28,903 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,665 22,830 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 21,079 23,311 533 Variety stores.................. 860 893 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,975 5,180 54 Food stores....................... 35,967 37,336 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,077 35,396 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,404 14,288 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,778 11,423 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 820 907 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,618 2,783 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,717 4,452 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,624 2,164 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,978 23,460 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,556 8,718 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,011 2,092 5961 Total mail order................... 6,086 5,438 53,56,57, GAF................................ 55,848 61,032 594 * 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--SEPTEMBER 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Sep. Aug. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Aug. Sep. July Aug. CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.1 +10.5 +1.5 +11.0 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.6 +8.8 +0.9 +8.2 Durable goods, total........ -0.8 +12.1 +2.1 +14.5 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.6 +8.6 +0.4 +10.2 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -1.3 +15.7 +3.1 +19.8 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -1.4 +16.3 +3.1 +20.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.2 +8.3 +0.7 +7.3 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.8 +9.4 +1.0 +8.5 53 General merchandise group stores.. +1.0 +9.4 +0.5 +8.9 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +1.2 +8.9 +0.3 +7.8 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.2 +7.2 54 Food stores....................... +0.9 +5.9 +0.5 +4.4 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.8 +6.0 +0.6 +4.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... +2.4 +18.2 +2.7 +14.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -0.9 +9.4 +1.2 +7.8 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.6 +6.9 +0.2 +7.4 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.0 +11.4 +0.6 +10.4 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Sep. Aug. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Aug. Sep. July Aug. CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -4.0 +11.0 +0.9 +10.9 Total (excl. auto group).. -3.2 +9.4 +0.6 +7.5 Durable goods, total........ -5.5 +12.2 +1.3 +15.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -2.4 +7.6 -4.8 +11.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -6.2 +16.1 +1.9 +21.3 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -6.4 +16.6 +2.0 +22.2 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -3.2 +8.4 +3.1 +7.1 Nondurable goods, total..... -2.9 +10.1 +0.6 +7.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. -4.7 +11.0 +4.1 +6.7 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -4.9 +10.7 +5.0 +5.3 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +5.0 +5.1 54 Food stores....................... -0.2 +6.9 -4.4 +3.2 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.2 +7.1 -4.5 +3.3 554 Gasoline service stations......... -3.7 +18.2 +1.5 +15.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -10.5 +10.4 +12.1 +5.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ -5.9 +7.1 -1.4 +6.7 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.6 +11.7 -0.5 +10.3 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--SEPTEMBER 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. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2713/2666.