Special Notice: The Text version of the Advanced Monthly Sales and Retail and Food Services (MARTS) release will not be available beginning with the November 2012 MARTS release on December 13, 2012. However, the release will continue to be available in PDF and Excel formats at http://www.census.gov/retail
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ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES SUMMARY - October 2012
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Notice: For information on Hurricane Sandy's impact on the compilation of this report, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on our website.
The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $411.6 billion, a decrease of 0.3 percent (±0.5%)* from the previous month, but 3.8 percent (±0.7%) above October 2011. Total sales for the August through October 2012 period were up 4.7 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The August to September 2012 percent change was revised from 1.1 percent (±0.5%) to 1.3 percent (±0.2%).
Retail trade sales were down 0.3 percent (±0.5%)* from September 2012, but 3.8 percent (±0.8%) above last year. Gasoline stations sales were up 7.7 percent (±1.7%) from October 2011 and nonstore retailers were up 7.2 percent (±3.0%) from last year.
The advance estimates are based on a subsample of the Census Bureau’s full retail and food services sample. A stratified random sampling method is used to select approximately 5,000 retail and food services firms whose sales are then weighted and benchmarked to represent the complete universe of over three million retail and food services firms. Responding firms account for approximately 65% of the MARTS dollar volume estimate. For an explanation of the measures of sampling variability included in this report, please see the Reliability of Estimates section on the last page of this publication.
* The 90 percent confidence interval includes zero. The Census Bureau does not have sufficient statistical evidence to conclude that the actual change is different than zero.
The Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services for November is scheduled to be released December 13, 2012 at 8:30 a.m. EST.
TABLE 1A. ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--October 2012
Estimates adjusted for seasonal variations and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.
(Total sales estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey, Monthly Retail Trade Survey, and administrative records.)(2)
(In Millions of dollars)
2012 2012 2012 2011 2011
NAICS(1) Kind of Business Oct(3) Sep Aug Oct Sep
Code (a) (p) (r) (r) (r)
Retail & food services, total.................... 411,591 412,869 407,696 396,407 391,539
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 336,814 336,975 333,078 325,160 321,889
Retail ....................................... 367,563 368,659 363,826 354,142 349,809
GAFO(4).......................................... (*) 99,823 99,391 98,500 98,479
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 74,777 75,894 74,618 71,247 69,650
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 67,829 68,965 67,802 64,290 62,619
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 7,938 7,984 8,001 7,535 7,503
443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 8,150 8,232 8,099 8,633 8,271
44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) 6,097 6,109 6,376 6,319
44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,135 1,990 2,257 1,952
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 24,318 24,798 24,286 24,142 23,549
4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 20,715 20,577 20,228 19,879
445 Food & beverage stores........................... 53,776 53,345 52,705 51,744 51,457
4451 Grocery stores.................................. 48,261 47,863 47,289 46,428 46,199
4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 3,707 3,656 3,655 3,652
446 Health & personal care stores.................... 22,851 22,792 22,874 22,966 22,930
44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 18,829 18,936 19,330 19,315
447 Gasoline stations................................ 47,849 47,170 46,003 44,421 44,604
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 20,077 20,094 20,017 19,036 19,199
44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (S) (S) (S) (S)
44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 3,497 3,473 3,242 3,265
4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 2,412 2,409 2,307 2,323
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 7,500 7,464 7,428 7,195 7,224
452 General merchandise stores....................... 53,023 52,907 52,702 53,008 53,198
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 15,211 15,264 15,291 15,348 15,463
4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.)(5)............... (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 37,643 37,411 37,660 37,735
45291 Warehouse clubs & supercenters................. (*) 32,588 32,410 33,096 33,210
45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 5,055 5,001 4,564 4,525
453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 10,244 10,257 10,265 9,659 9,686
454 Nonstore retailers............................... 37,060 37,722 36,828 34,556 32,538
4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 29,802 28,991 26,589 24,909
722 Food services & drinking places.................. 44,028 44,210 43,870 42,265 41,730
(*) Advance estimates are not available for this kind of business.
(NA) Not available (S) Suppressed (a) Advance estimate (p) Preliminary estimate (r) Revised estimate
(1) For a full description of the NAICS codes used in this table, see http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics
(2) Estimates are concurrently adjusted for seasonal variation and for holiday and trading day differences, but not for price changes. Concurrent seasonal adjustment
uses all available unadjusted estimates as input to the X-12 ARIMA program. The factors derived from the program are used in calculating all seasonally
adjusted estimates shown in this table. Year-to-date seasonally adjusted sales estimates are not tabulated. Adjustment factors and explanatory material can be found
on the Internet at http://www.census.gov/retail
(3) Advance estimates are based on early reports obtained from a small sample of firms selected from the larger Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) sample.
All other estimates are from the MRTS sample.
(4) GAFO represents firms which specialize in department store types of merchandise and is comprised of furniture & home furnishings (442), electronics & appliances (443),
clothing & clothing accessories(448), sporting goods, hobby, book, and music (451), general merchandise(452), office supply, stationery, and gift stores(4532).
(5) Estimates include data for leased departments operated within department stores. Data for this line are not included in broader kind-of-business totals.
TABLE 1B. ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--October 2012
Estimates not adjusted for seasonal variations and holiday and trading-day differences and price changes.
(In Millions of dollars and Annual Percent Change)
10 month total
% Chg. 2012 2012 2012 2011 2011
NAICS(1) Kind of Business 2012 from Oct(2) Sep Aug Oct Sep
Code 2011 (a) (p) (r)
Retail & food services, total.................... 4,004,836 5.5 404,763 391,248 422,692 384,345 379,330
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 3,257,821 4.9 331,957 319,796 341,731 317,494 311,306
Retail ....................................... 3,564,460 5.3 361,175 347,790 377,199 341,995 338,059
GAFO(3).......................................... (*) (*) (*) 92,023 101,686 93,453 91,623
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 747,015 8.3 72,806 71,452 80,961 66,851 68,024
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 676,835 8.9 65,455 64,689 73,497 59,790 60,866
44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 54,275 61,148 50,532 51,006
4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 6,763 7,464 7,061 7,158
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 77,433 8.4 7,613 7,816 8,489 7,098 7,556
4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,237 4,495 3,784 4,085
4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,579 3,994 3,314 3,471
443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 76,542 -0.8 7,368 7,431 8,080 7,695 7,578
44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) (*) (*) 5,518 6,170 5,643 5,763
44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 1,913 1,910 2,052 1,815
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 247,347 5.9 25,434 23,332 25,238 24,018 23,299
4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 20,176 22,141 20,390 20,396
445 Food & beverage stores........................... 523,445 3.5 53,162 51,693 53,990 51,298 50,360
4451 Grocery stores.................................. 470,858 3.3 47,730 46,475 48,471 46,057 45,229
4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 3,555 3,799 3,593 3,597
446 Health & personal care stores.................... 227,494 1.4 23,102 21,470 23,080 22,622 22,265
44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 17,718 19,031 19,214 18,736
447 Gasoline stations................................ 460,908 4.3 48,184 46,510 49,407 44,421 44,738
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 185,462 5.9 18,850 18,413 20,679 18,095 17,818
44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 682 644 740 698
44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,336 3,282 3,180 3,177
44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 7,065 8,358 7,209 6,854
4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 2,236 3,047 2,129 2,163
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 69,718 6.2 6,375 7,031 8,594 6,051 6,899
452 General merchandise stores....................... 503,639 1.4 50,749 48,306 52,376 51,324 48,615
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 139,274 -0.6 14,033 13,522 15,192 14,425 13,730
4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.)(4)............... (*) (*) (*) 13,741 15,433 14,661 13,956
4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 34,784 37,184 36,899 34,885
45291 Warehouse clubs & supercenters................. (*) (*) (*) 30,209 32,378 32,467 30,686
45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 4,575 4,806 4,432 4,199
453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 99,923 7.5 10,698 9,960 10,676 9,810 9,768
454 Nonstore retailers............................... 345,534 11.8 36,834 34,376 35,629 32,712 31,139
4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 27,448 28,469 25,047 24,087
722 Food services & drinking places.................. 440,376 7.2 43,588 43,458 45,493 42,350 41,271
(*) Advance estimates are not available for this kind of business.
(NA) Not available (a) Advance estimate (p) Preliminary estimate (r) Revised estimate
(1) For a full description of the NAICS codes used in this table, see http://www.census.gov/eos/www/naics
(2) Advance estimates are based on early reports obtained from a small sample of firms selected from the larger Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) sample.
All other estimates are from the MRTS sample.
(3) GAFO represents firms which specialize in department store types of merchandise and is comprised of furniture & home furnishings (442), electronics & appliances (443),
clothing & clothing accessories(448), sporting goods, hobby, book, and music (451), general merchandise(452), office supply, stationery, and gift stores(4532).
(4) Estimates include data for leased departments operated within department stores. Data for this line are not included in broader kind-of-business totals.
TABLE 2A. ESTIMATED CHANGE IN SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--October 2012
Estimates adjusted for seasonal variations and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes
(Estimates are shown as percents and are based on data from the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey,
Monthly Retail Trade Survey, and administrative records.)(*)
Oct Sep
2012 2012
adv. prel.
from-- from--
NAICS Kind of Business Sep Oct Aug Sep
Code 2012 2011 2012 2011
(p) (r) (r) (r)
Retail & food Services, total.................... -0.3 +3.8 +1.3 +5.4
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... 0.0 +3.6 +1.2 +4.7
Retail .................................. -0.3 +3.8 +1.3 +5.4
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -1.5 +5.0 +1.7 +9.0
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... -1.6 +5.5 +1.7 +10.1
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. -0.6 +5.3 -0.2 +6.4
443 Electronics & appliance stores................... -1.0 -5.6 +1.6 -0.5
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -1.9 +0.7 +2.1 +5.3
445 Food & beverage stores........................... +0.8 +3.9 +1.2 +3.7
4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.8 +3.9 +1.2 +3.6
446 Health & personal care stores.................... +0.3 -0.5 -0.4 -0.6
447 Gasoline stations................................ +1.4 +7.7 +2.5 +5.8
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... -0.1 +5.5 +0.4 +4.7
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +0.5 +4.2 +0.5 +3.3
452 General merchandise stores....................... +0.2 0.0 +0.4 -0.5
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... -0.3 -0.9 -0.2 -1.3
453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... -0.1 +6.1 -0.1 +5.9
454 Nonstore retailers............................... -1.8 +7.2 +2.4 +15.9
722 Food services & drinking places.................. -0.4 +4.2 +0.8 +5.9
(p) Preliminary estimate (r) Revised estimate
(*) Estimates shown in this table are derived from adjusted estimates provided in Table 1A of this report.
TABLE 2B. ESTIMATED CHANGE IN SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--October 2012
Data not adjusted for seasonal variations and holiday and trading-day differences and price changes.
(Estimates are shown as percents and are based on data from the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey,
Monthly Retail Trade Survey, and administrative records.)(*)
Oct Sep
2012 2012
adv. prel.
from-- from--
NAICS Kind of Business Sep Oct Aug Sep
Code 2012 2011 2012 2011
(p) (r) (r) (r)
Retail & food Services, total.................... +3.5 +5.3 -7.4 +3.1
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +3.8 +4.6 -6.4 +2.7
Retail .................................. +3.8 +5.6 -7.8 +2.9
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... +1.9 +8.9 -11.7 +5.0
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................ +1.2 +9.5 -12.0 +6.3
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. -2.6 +7.3 -7.9 +3.4
443 Electronics & appliance stores................... -0.8 -4.2 -8.0 -1.9
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers +9.0 +5.9 -7.6 +0.1
445 Food & beverage stores........................... +2.8 +3.6 -4.3 +2.6
4451 Grocery stores.................................. +2.7 +3.6 -4.1 +2.8
446 Health & personal care stores.................... +7.6 +2.1 -7.0 -3.6
447 Gasoline stations................................ +3.6 +8.5 -5.9 +4.0
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +2.4 +4.2 -11.0 +3.3
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ -9.3 +5.4 -18.2 +1.9
452 General merchandise stores....................... +5.1 -1.1 -7.8 -0.6
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +3.8 -2.7 -11.0 -1.5
453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +7.4 +9.1 -6.7 +2.0
454 Nonstore retailers............................... +7.2 +12.6 -3.5 +10.4
722 Food services & drinking places.................. +0.3 +2.9 -4.5 +5.3
(p) Preliminary estimate (r) Revised estimate
(*) Estimates shown in this table are derived from not adjusted estimates provided in Table 1B of this report.
SOURCE: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--October 2012 (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. Ian Thomas (301) 763-2713.