ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - DECEMBER 1997 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for December adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $215.6 billion, an increase of 0.7 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 4.4 percent (+/-0.9%) from December 1996. Total sales for the 12 months of 1997 were 2.5 trillion, up 4.2 percent (+/-0.7%) from the 1996 total. The October to November 1997 percent change was revised from the +0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) to +0.3 percent (+/-0.3%). Durable goods increased 1.9 percent (+/-1.4%) from November and were 7.1 percent above last year. Automotive dealers increased 6.8 percent from last year while furniture sales were up 9.2 percent in ths same period. Nondurable goods decreased 0.1 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month but were 2.6 percent above last year. General merchandise and drug store sales were up 4.8 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively, from December 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 January is scheduled to be released February 12, 1998 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--DECEMBER 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Oct. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 215,637 214,093 213,517 Total (excl. auto group).. 162,534 162,174 162,200 Durable goods, total........ 89,382 87,712 86,863 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,855 11,833 11,971 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,118 9,175 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,264 1,350 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,103 51,919 51,317 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,201 48,994 48,358 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,925 2,959 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,192 11,999 11,857 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,133 6,055 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,985 4,896 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 126,255 126,381 126,654 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,931 27,865 27,898 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,109 22,003 22,029 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 22,485 22,412 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 783 764 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,079 5,105 54 Food stores....................... 36,247 36,409 36,254 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,097 34,271 34,099 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,832 12,973 13,174 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,899 9,819 9,785 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 969 972 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,670 2,665 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,631 1,622 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,419 20,318 20,467 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,442 8,448 8,328 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,071 2,084 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,218 4,508 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 57,903 57,624 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Dec.(r) Nov.(r) Retail trade, total........... 206,528 205,966 Total (excl. auto group).. 156,801 156,392 Durable goods, total........ 83,495 83,561 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,373 11,372 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,636 8,672 525 Hardware stores................. 1,291 1,266 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 49,727 49,574 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 46,744 46,615 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,983 2,959 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,160 11,153 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,657 5,622 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,629 4,660 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 123,033 122,405 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,659 26,240 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,052 20,444 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 21,381 20,965 533 Variety stores.................. 705 702 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,902 5,094 54 Food stores....................... 35,730 35,571 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,774 33,621 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,269 13,162 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,395 9,360 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 810 850 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,762 2,736 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,587 1,556 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,942 20,125 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,813 7,768 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,911 1,891 5961 Total mail order................... 4,044 3,972 53,56,57, GAF................................ 55,303 54,779 594 * 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--DECEMBER 1997 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Oct. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 259,381 214,383 215,742 Total (excl. auto group).. 211,591 168,575 163,314 Durable goods, total........ 99,077 82,429 87,828 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,966 11,054 12,852 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,562 10,019 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,263 1,385 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 47,790 45,808 52,428 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,030 42,968 49,277 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 38,002 43,325 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,840 3,151 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 17,386 13,211 11,838 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,808 6,255 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,474 4,744 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 873 834 Nondurable goods, total..... 160,304 131,954 127,914 53 General merchandise group stores.. 47,084 32,809 27,680 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 38,072 26,293 21,787 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 26,709 22,122 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 853 773 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,663 5,120 54 Food stores....................... 39,029 36,173 36,407 541 Grocery stores.................. 36,211 34,065 34,235 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,652 12,428 13,437 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 16,125 11,090 9,895 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 1,106 967 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,910 2,708 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,634 3,908 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,647 1,536 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,235 19,627 20,835 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,510 8,135 8,295 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,085 2,053 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 5,298 5,054 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 66,168 56,689 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Retail trade, total........... 244,719 210,236 Total (excl. auto group).. 201,187 164,872 Durable goods, total........ 90,163 80,826 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,350 10,921 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,608 8,403 525 Hardware stores................. 1,359 1,299 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 43,532 45,364 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 40,761 42,420 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 36,237 37,578 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,771 2,944 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 15,608 12,483 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,720 6,347 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 7,263 5,205 5722 Household appliance stores.... 1,031 882 Nondurable goods, total..... 154,556 129,410 53 General merchandise group stores.. 44,935 31,075 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 36,188 24,614 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 36,701 25,069 533 Variety stores.................. 1,218 776 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 7,529 5,685 54 Food stores....................... 38,008 35,880 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,463 33,924 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,990 12,807 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 15,130 10,777 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 1,514 977 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 4,406 3,048 565 Family clothing stores.......... 6,234 4,366 566 Shoe stores..................... 2,017 1,606 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,822 19,622 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,602 7,613 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,525 1,970 5961 Total mail order................... 6,203 5,223 53,56,57, GAF................................ 92,927 63,380 594 * 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--DECEMBER 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Dec. Nov. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Nov. Dec. Oct. Nov. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.7 +4.4 +0.3 +3.9 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.2 +3.7 0.0 +3.7 Durable goods, total........ +1.9 +7.1 +1.0 +5.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.2 +4.2 -1.2 +4.1 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +2.3 +6.8 +1.2 +4.7 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.5 +7.4 +1.3 +5.1 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.6 +9.2 +1.2 +7.6 Nondurable goods, total..... -0.1 +2.6 -0.2 +3.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.2 +4.8 -0.1 +6.2 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.5 +5.0 -0.1 +7.6 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.3 +7.3 54 Food stores....................... -0.4 +1.4 +0.4 +2.4 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.5 +1.0 +0.5 +1.9 554 Gasoline service stations......... -1.1 -3.3 -1.5 -1.4 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.8 +5.4 +0.3 +4.9 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.5 +2.4 -0.7 +1.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.1 +8.1 +1.4 +8.8 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Dec. Nov. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Nov. Dec. Oct. Nov. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +21.0 +6.0 -0.6 +2.0 Total (excl. auto group).. +25.5 +5.2 +3.2 +2.2 Durable goods, total........ +20.2 +9.9 -6.1 +2.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.8 +6.0 -14.0 +1.2 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +4.3 +9.8 -12.6 +1.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +4.8 +10.5 -12.8 +1.3 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +31.6 +11.4 +11.6 +5.8 Nondurable goods, total..... +21.5 +3.7 +3.2 +2.0 53 General merchandise group stores.. +43.5 +4.8 +18.5 +5.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +44.8 +5.2 +20.7 +6.8 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +20.7 +6.5 54 Food stores....................... +7.9 +2.7 -0.6 +0.8 541 Grocery stores.................. +6.3 +2.1 -0.5 +0.4 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.8 -2.6 -7.5 -3.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +45.4 +6.6 +12.1 +2.9 58 Eating and drinking places........ +3.1 +2.1 -5.8 0.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +29.2 +9.5 -1.9 +6.9 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--DECEMBER 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.