ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - April 1994 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for April adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $183.6 billion, a decrease of 0.8 percent (+/-1.1%) from the previous month but were 7.6 percent (+/-1.8%) above the same month a year ago. Total sales in the February through April period were 8.6 percent (+/-1.8%) above the same period a year ago. The February to March 1994 percent change was revised from +0.4 percent (+/-1.2%) as published in the March advance, to +1.7 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods were up 13.8 percent from the previous year. Building materials were up 12.2 percent from April 1993 while automotive dealers and furniture were up 18.0 percent and 11.4 percent, respectively, in the same period. Nondurable goods were up 4.0 percent from April 1993. General merchandise stores were up 6.4 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 May is scheduled to be released June 14, 1994 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--APRIL 1994 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1994 SIC Kind of business code Apr. Mar. Feb. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 183,608 185,000 181,958 Total (excl. auto group).. 140,485 141,143 139,346 Durable goods, total........ 71,831 72,972 70,860 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,350 10,616 9,832 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 7,709 7,343 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,127 1,140 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 43,123 43,857 42,612 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 39,817 40,458 39,269 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,399 3,343 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,130 10,176 10,053 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 4,979 4,887 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV and computer stores............ (*) 4,214 4,209 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 111,777 112,028 111,098 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,266 23,246 23,206 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 17,694 17,763 17,729 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 18,320 18,247 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 527 535 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,956 4,942 54 Food stores....................... 33,500 33,551 33,576 541 Grocery stores.................. 31,640 31,673 31,707 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,664 11,521 11,279 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,784 8,900 8,956 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 814 812 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 3,159 3,259 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,465 1,455 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,551 18,718 18,169 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,809 6,886 6,796 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,738 1,714 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 2,731 2,591 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... (*) 48,644 48,590 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993 SIC Kind of business code Apr.(r) Mar.(r) Retail trade, total........... 170,627 167,294 Total (excl. auto group).. 134,086 132,091 Durable goods, total........ 63,113 60,950 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,228 9,073 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 6,823 6,703 525 Hardware stores................. 1,012 1,052 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 36,541 35,203 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 33,419 32,126 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,122 3,077 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 9,091 8,946 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 4,640 4,563 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV and computer stores............ 3,519 3,477 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 107,514 106,344 53 General merchandise group stores.. 21,858 21,203 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 16,353 15,717 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 16,761 16,229 533 Variety stores.................. 617 620 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,888 4,866 54 Food stores....................... 32,504 32,241 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,733 30,591 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,470 11,402 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,735 8,488 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 684 678 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 3,319 3,167 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,441 1,411 58 Eating and drinking places........ 17,408 17,190 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,695 6,661 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,800 1,806 5961 Total mail order................... 2,398 2,481 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... 45,966 44,552 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business NA Not available SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--APRIL 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--APRIL 1994 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1994 SIC Kind of business code Apr. Mar. Feb. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 181,840 184,389 156,643 Total (excl. auto group).. 136,030 137,471 118,866 Durable goods, total........ 73,690 74,346 60,819 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,126 10,051 7,414 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 7,424 5,676 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,046 865 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 45,810 46,918 37,777 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 42,445 43,533 34,989 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 39,428 31,684 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,385 2,788 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 9,563 10,003 8,770 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 4,954 4,296 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV and computer stores............ (*) 4,088 3,620 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 822 698 Nondurable goods, total..... 108,150 110,043 95,824 53 General merchandise group stores.. 21,228 21,685 17,714 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 16,208 16,573 13,297 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 17,019 13,667 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 498 414 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,614 4,003 54 Food stores....................... 33,183 33,654 30,131 541 Grocery stores.................. 31,355 31,768 28,473 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,267 11,003 9,880 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,450 8,561 6,557 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 723 597 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 3,071 2,415 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,625 1,944 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,537 1,113 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,625 18,662 16,334 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,755 7,044 6,293 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,634 1,445 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 2,709 2,179 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... (*) 45,610 38,096 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993 SIC Kind of business code Apr.(r) Mar.(r) Retail trade, total........... 170,324 164,642 Total (excl. auto group).. 130,937 126,958 Durable goods, total........ 65,319 61,834 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,031 8,592 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,178 6,415 525 Hardware stores................. 1,075 967 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 39,387 37,684 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 36,193 34,632 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 32,184 30,895 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,194 3,052 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 8,589 8,757 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 4,533 4,513 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio,TV and computer stores............ 3,216 3,366 5722 Household appliance stores.... 774 739 Nondurable goods, total..... 105,005 102,808 53 General merchandise group stores.. 20,272 19,174 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 15,208 14,287 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 15,688 14,736 533 Variety stores.................. 616 542 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,448 4,345 54 Food stores....................... 32,283 31,846 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,487 30,224 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,080 10,923 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,740 7,762 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 657 582 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 3,352 2,971 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,492 2,241 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,568 1,355 58 Eating and drinking places........ 17,460 17,070 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,749 6,734 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,706 1,676 5961 Total mail order................... 2,185 2,498 53,56,57 594 GAF............................... 42,966 40,626 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business NA Not available SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--APRIL 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--APRIL 1994 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) SIC Kind of business Apr. Mar. CODE 1994 1994 adv. prel. from-- from-- Mar. Apr. Feb. Mar. 1994 1993 1994 1993 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -0.8 +7.6 +1.7 +10.6 Total (excl. auto)........ -0.5 +4.8 +1.3 +6.9 Durable goods, total........ -1.6 +13.8 +3.0 +19.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -2.5 +12.2 +8.0 +17.0 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -1.7 +18.0 +2.9 +24.6 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -1.6 +19.1 +3.0 +25.9 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.5 +11.4 +1.2 +13.7 Nondurable goods, total..... -0.2 +4.0 +0.8 +5.3 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.1 +6.4 +0.2 +9.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.) -0.4 +8.2 +0.2 +13.0 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.) (NA) (NA) +0.4 +12.9 54 Food stores....................... -0.2 +3.1 -0.1 +4.1 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.1 +3.0 -0.1 +3.5 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.2 +1.7 +2.1 +1.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -1.3 +0.6 -0.6 +4.9 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.9 +6.6 +3.0 +8.9 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -1.1 +1.7 +1.3 +3.4 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) SIC Kind of business Apr. Mar. CODE 1994 1994 adv. prel. from-- from-- Mar. Apr. Feb. Mar. 1994 1993 1994 1993 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -1.4 +6.8 +17.7 +12.0 Total (excl. auto)........ -1.0 +3.9 +15.7 +8.3 Durable goods, total........ -0.9 +12.8 +22.2 +20.2 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +10.7 +10.9 +35.6 +17.0 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -2.4 +16.3 +24.2 +24.5 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -2.5 +17.3 +24.4 +25.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -4.4 +11.3 +14.1 +14.2 Nondurable goods, total..... -1.7 +3.0 +14.8 +7.0 53 General merchandise group stores.. -2.1 +4.7 +22.4 +13.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.) -2.2 +6.6 +24.6 +16.0 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.) (NA) (NA) +24.5 +15.5 54 Food stores....................... -1.4 +2.8 +11.7 +5.7 541 Grocery stores.................. -1.3 +2.8 +11.6 +5.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... +2.4 +1.7 +11.4 +0.7 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -1.3 -3.3 +30.6 +10.3 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.2 +6.7 +14.3 +9.3 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -4.1 +0.1 +11.9 +4.6 SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--APRIL 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.