NOTICE. The advance estimates in this report are the first estimates from a new sample which was selected from the full monthly sample. The advance, preliminary and final estimates are now all on the same sample basis. ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - NOVEMBER 1997 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for November adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $213.8 billion, an increase of 0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and 3.8 percent (+/-0.9%) above November 1996. Total sales for the September through November period were 3.8 percent (+/-0.7%) above the same period a year ago. The September to October 1997 percent change was unchanged from the -0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) shown in the October report. Durable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-1.4%) from October and were 3.7 percent above last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 3.9 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 scheduled release dates for 1998 are as follows: January 14, February 12, March 12, April 14, May 13, June 11, July 14, August 13, September 15, October 14, November 13, and December 11. The Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for December is scheduled to be released January 14, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--NOVEMBER 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 213,821 213,409 213,805 Total (excl. auto group).. 162,610 162,285 161,876 Durable goods, total........ 86,684 86,541 87,025 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,927 12,023 11,901 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,183 9,130 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,356 1,340 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,211 51,124 51,929 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,287 48,165 48,974 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,959 2,955 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,944 11,796 11,799 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,009 6,003 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,877 4,901 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 127,137 126,868 126,780 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,008 27,977 27,747 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,146 22,087 21,861 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 22,424 22,145 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 765 802 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,125 5,084 54 Food stores....................... 36,475 36,320 36,338 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,305 34,168 34,160 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,172 13,243 13,178 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,887 9,769 9,759 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 973 938 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,653 2,697 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,621 1,596 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,462 20,525 20,635 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,452 8,306 8,341 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,071 2,001 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,477 4,595 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 57,600 57,326 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Nov.(r) Oct.(r) Retail trade, total........... 205,933 206,693 Total (excl. auto group).. 156,353 156,402 Durable goods, total........ 83,582 84,066 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,371 11,355 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,654 8,577 525 Hardware stores................. 1,265 1,278 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 49,580 50,291 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 46,615 47,219 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,965 3,072 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,169 11,238 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,632 5,636 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,672 4,737 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 122,351 122,627 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,210 26,555 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,427 20,764 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,940 21,054 533 Variety stores.................. 703 716 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,080 5,075 54 Food stores....................... 35,599 35,675 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,655 33,753 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,176 13,068 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,347 9,579 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 850 858 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,731 2,791 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,558 1,586 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,105 19,864 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,768 7,793 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,892 1,886 5961 Total mail order................... 3,945 4,028 53,56,57, GAF................................ 54,795 55,322 594 * 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--NOVEMBER 1997 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 214,309 215,534 206,839 Total (excl. auto group).. 169,125 163,258 155,001 Durable goods, total........ 81,459 87,610 86,463 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,128 12,925 12,653 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 10,037 9,797 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,389 1,305 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 45,184 52,276 51,838 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 42,348 49,128 48,827 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 43,228 42,801 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,148 3,011 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,162 11,762 11,465 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,207 5,979 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,716 4,661 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 831 805 Nondurable goods, total..... 132,850 127,924 120,376 53 General merchandise group stores.. 33,004 27,699 24,676 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 26,509 21,800 19,369 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 22,133 19,675 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 774 716 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,125 4,591 54 Food stores....................... 36,179 36,468 34,956 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,031 34,305 32,896 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,606 13,468 13,191 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,153 9,870 9,269 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 965 843 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,685 2,581 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,903 3,505 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,540 1,548 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,787 20,894 20,243 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,148 8,264 7,882 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,044 1,897 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,969 4,489 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 56,607 52,549 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Retail trade, total........... 210,236 207,531 Total (excl. auto group).. 164,872 156,473 Durable goods, total........ 80,826 84,794 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,921 12,316 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,403 9,478 525 Hardware stores................. 1,299 1,306 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 45,364 51,058 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 42,420 47,786 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 37,578 42,423 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,944 3,272 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,483 11,211 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,347 5,822 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,205 4,604 5722 Household appliance stores.... 882 797 Nondurable goods, total..... 129,410 122,737 53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,075 25,978 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,614 20,183 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 25,069 20,539 533 Variety stores.................. 776 710 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,685 5,085 54 Food stores....................... 35,880 35,498 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,924 33,584 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,807 13,264 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,777 9,569 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 977 843 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 3,048 2,805 565 Family clothing stores.......... 4,366 3,683 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,606 1,494 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,622 20,083 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,613 7,715 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,970 1,837 5961 Total mail order................... 5,223 4,491 53,56,57, GAF................................ 63,380 53,897 594 * 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--NOVEMBER 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.2 +3.8 -0.2 +3.2 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.2 +4.0 +0.3 +3.8 Durable goods, total........ +0.2 +3.7 -0.6 +2.9 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.8 +4.9 +1.0 +5.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +0.2 +3.3 -1.6 +1.7 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +0.3 +3.6 -1.7 +2.0 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.3 +6.9 0.0 +5.0 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.2 +3.9 +0.1 +3.5 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.1 +6.9 +0.8 +5.4 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.3 +8.4 +1.0 +6.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.3 +6.5 54 Food stores....................... +0.4 +2.5 0.0 +1.8 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.4 +1.9 0.0 +1.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.5 0.0 +0.5 +1.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +1.2 +5.8 +0.1 +2.0 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.3 +1.8 -0.5 +3.3 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.8 +8.8 -0.4 +6.6 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -0.6 +1.9 +4.2 +3.9 Total (excl. auto group).. +3.6 +2.6 +5.3 +4.3 Durable goods, total........ -7.0 +0.8 +1.3 +3.3 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -13.9 +1.9 +2.1 +4.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -13.6 -0.4 +0.8 +2.4 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -13.8 -0.2 +0.6 +2.8 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +11.9 +5.4 +2.6 +4.9 Nondurable goods, total..... +3.9 +2.7 +6.3 +4.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +19.2 +6.2 +12.3 +6.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +21.6 +7.7 +12.6 +8.0 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +12.5 +7.8 54 Food stores....................... -0.8 +0.8 +4.3 +2.7 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.8 +0.3 +4.3 +2.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... -6.4 -1.6 +2.1 +1.5 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +13.0 +3.5 +6.5 +3.1 58 Eating and drinking places........ -5.3 +0.8 +3.2 +4.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -1.4 +7.0 +4.8 +7.1 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--NOVEMBER 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.