ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - MARCH 1994 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for March adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $182.3 billion, an increase of 0.4 percent (+/-1.2%) from the previous month and were 8.9 percent (+/-1.8%) above the same month a year ago. Total sales in the first quarter were 7.2 percent (+/-1.8%) above the same quarter a year ago. The January to February 1994 percent change was revised from +1.5 percent (+/-1.2%) as published in the February advance, to +1.6 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods were up 17.1 percent from the previous year. Building materials were up 11.2 percent from March 1993 while automotive dealers and furniture were up 21.1 percent and 12.5 percent, respectively, in the same period. Nondurable goods were up 4.1 percent from March 1993. General merchandise stores were up 10.4 percent from the previous 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 April is scheduled to be released May 12, 1994 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1994 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1994 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 182,265 181,510 178,643 Total (excl. auto)........ 139,491 138,930 137,147 Durable goods, total........ 71,511 70,711 69,615 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,111 9,714 10,037 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 7,279 7,340 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,149 1,154 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 42,774 42,580 41,496 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 39,437 39,251 38,218 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,329 3,278 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,068 9,983 9,706 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 4,833 4,627 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV & computer stores................ (*) 4,202 4,139 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 110,754 110,799 109,028 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,424 23,386 23,054 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 17,962 17,857 17,626 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 18,254 18,011 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 534 516 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,995 4,912 54 Food stores....................... 33,313 33,565 33,342 541 Grocery stores.................. 31,482 31,700 31,468 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,095 11,155 10,962 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,960 8,936 8,554 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 815 766 562,3 Women's clothing and specialty stores........................ (*) 3,262 2,944 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,429 1,411 58 Eating and drinking places........ 17,926 17,958 17,309 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,859 6,734 6,902 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,716 1,704 5961 Total mail order................... (*) (NA) (NA) 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... (*) 48,690 47,669 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993 SIC Kind of business code Mar.(r) Feb.(r) Retail trade, total........... 167,445 168,830 Total (excl. auto)........ 132,116 133,418 Durable goods, total........ 61,057 61,469 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,092 9,201 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 6,746 6,875 525 Hardware stores................. 1,047 1,044 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 35,329 35,412 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 32,246 32,249 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,083 3,163 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 8,951 8,970 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 4,554 4,595 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV & computer stores................ 3,481 3,450 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 106,388 107,361 53 General merchandise group stores.. 21,225 21,688 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 15,752 16,193 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 16,337 16,654 533 Variety stores.................. 618 626 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,855 4,869 54 Food stores....................... 32,286 32,760 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,622 31,011 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,438 11,432 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,467 8,778 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 681 694 562,3 Women's clothing and specialty stores........................ 3,154 3,357 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,407 1,438 58 Eating and drinking places........ 17,139 17,117 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,687 6,732 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,812 1,814 5961 Total mail order................... (NA) (NA) 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... 44,474 45,221 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business NA Not available SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1994 (Press Release available without charge from Public Information Office, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233). Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Ronald Piencykoski (301) 763-5294/7561. TABLE 1B: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1994 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1994 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 181,064 156,182 155,452 Total (excl. auto)........ 135,641 118,417 120,286 Durable goods, total........ 72,570 60,610 58,349 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,605 7,332 7,547 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 5,641 5,659 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 870 954 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 45,423 37,765 35,166 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 42,119 35,012 32,409 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 31,680 29,587 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,753 2,757 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 9,917 8,707 8,885 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 4,248 4,187 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV & computer stores................ (*) 3,614 3,845 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 702 746 Nondurable goods, total..... 108,494 95,572 97,103 53 General merchandise group stores.. 21,801 17,849 17,114 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 16,705 13,375 12,761 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 13,745 13,112 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 413 369 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,061 3,984 54 Food stores....................... 33,324 30,125 31,980 541 Grocery stores.................. 31,513 28,467 30,335 554 Gasoline service stations......... 10,529 9,794 10,184 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,673 6,541 6,207 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 599 640 562,3 Women's clothing and specialty stores........................ (*) 2,414 2,199 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 1,944 1,828 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,093 1,075 58 Eating and drinking places........ 17,944 16,108 15,872 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,982 6,290 6,598 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,450 1,491 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 2,160 2,456 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... (*) 38,141 37,214 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993 SIC Kind of business code Mar.(r) Feb.(r) Retail trade, total........... 164,642 145,030 Total (excl. auto)........ 126,958 113,651 Durable goods, total........ 61,834 52,536 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 8,592 6,943 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 6,415 5,314 525 Hardware stores................. 967 790 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 37,684 31,379 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 34,632 28,766 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 30,895 25,847 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,052 2,613 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 8,757 7,834 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 4,513 4,044 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV & computer stores................ 3,366 2,967 5722 Household appliance stores.... 739 658 Nondurable goods, total..... 102,808 92,494 53 General merchandise group stores.. 19,174 16,452 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 14,287 12,064 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 14,736 12,457 533 Variety stores.................. 542 483 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,345 3,905 54 Food stores....................... 31,846 29,406 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,224 27,848 554 Gasoline service stations......... 10,923 10,026 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 7,762 6,423 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 582 508 562,3 Women's clothing and specialty stores........................ 2,971 2,484 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,241 1,851 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,355 1,096 58 Eating and drinking places........ 17,070 15,337 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,734 6,281 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,676 1,533 5961 Total mail order................... 2,498 2,089 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... 40,626 35,291 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business NA Not available SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1994 (Press Release available without charge from Public Information Office, Bureau of the Census, Washington, D.C. 20233). Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Ronald Piencykoski (301) 763-5294/7561. TABLE 2: PERCENT CHANGE IN ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1994 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) SIC Kind of business Mar. Feb. CODE 1994 1994 adv. prel. from-- from-- Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. 1994 1993 1994 1993 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.4 +8.9 +1.6 +7.5 Total (excl. auto)........ +0.4 +5.6 +1.3 +4.1 Durable goods, total........ +1.1 +17.1 +1.6 +15.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +4.1 +11.2 -3.2 +5.6 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +0.5 +21.1 +2.6 +20.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +0.5 +22.3 +2.7 +21.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.9 +12.5 +2.9 +11.3 Nondurable goods, total..... 0.0 +4.1 +1.6 +3.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.2 +10.4 +1.4 +7.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.) +0.6 +14.0 +1.3 +10.3 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.) (NA) (NA) +1.3 +9.6 54 Food stores....................... -0.8 +3.2 +0.7 +2.5 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.7 +2.8 +0.7 +2.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.5 -3.0 +1.8 -2.4 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.3 +5.8 +4.5 +1.8 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.2 +4.6 +3.7 +4.9 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.9 +2.6 -2.4 0.0 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) SIC Kind of business Mar. Feb. CODE 1994 1994 adv. prel. from-- from-- Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. 1994 1993 1994 1993 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +15.9 +10.0 +0.5 +7.7 Total (excl. auto)........ +14.5 +6.8 -1.6 +4.2 Durable goods, total........ +19.7 +17.4 +3.9 +15.4 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +31.0 +11.8 -2.8 +5.6 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +20.3 +20.5 +7.4 +20.4 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +20.3 +21.6 +8.0 +21.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +13.9 +13.2 -2.0 +11.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +13.5 +5.5 -1.6 +3.3 53 General merchandise group stores.. +22.1 +13.7 +4.3 +8.5 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.) +24.9 +16.9 +4.8 +10.9 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.) (NA) (NA) +4.8 +10.3 54 Food stores....................... +10.6 +4.6 -5.8 +2.4 541 Grocery stores.................. +10.7 +4.3 -6.2 +2.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... +7.5 -3.6 -3.8 -2.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +32.6 +11.7 +5.4 +1.8 58 Eating and drinking places........ +11.4 +5.1 +1.5 +5.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +11.0 +3.7 -4.7 +0.1 SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1994 (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) 763-5294/7561.