ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - AUGUST 1995 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for August adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $197.3 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (+/-1.3%) from the previous month and up 5.0 percent (+/-1.9%) from August 1994. Total sales in the June through August period were 5.7 percent (+/-1.7%) above the same period a year ago. The June to July 1995 percent change was revised from -0.1 percent (+/-1.3%) to -0.4 percent (+/-0.5%). Durable goods increased 1.7 percent (+/-2.4%) from July and were 7.4 percent above August 1994. Automotive dealers sales were up 10.3 percent from last year. Nondurable goods decreased 0.1 percent (+/-1.2%) from last month but were 3.4 percent above last year. General merchandise sales were up 5.4 percent from 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 Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for September is scheduled to be released October 13, 1995 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--AUGUST 1995 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1995 SIC Kind of business code Aug. July June adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 197,251 196,023 196,774 Total (excl. auto group).. 148,731 148,659 148,695 Durable goods, total........ 79,510 78,196 78,835 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,185 10,270 10,243 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 7,887 7,842 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,139 1,172 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 48,520 47,364 48,079 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,646 44,523 45,252 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,841 2,827 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,810 10,620 10,660 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,234 5,210 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,456 4,536 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 117,741 117,827 117,939 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,007 25,107 25,013 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,436 19,521 19,396 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 19,832 19,685 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 612 622 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,974 4,995 54 Food stores....................... 34,098 34,085 33,872 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,296 32,268 32,055 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,321 12,475 12,744 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,929 9,068 9,202 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 950 952 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,792 2,865 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,572 1,577 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,021 20,121 19,980 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,049 6,991 7,018 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,815 1,833 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,241 4,145 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 51,909 51,953 594 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1994 SIC Kind of business code Aug.(r) July(r) Retail trade, total........... 187,864 185,435 Total (excl. auto group).. 143,885 142,621 Durable goods, total........ 74,034 72,291 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,436 10,191 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,897 7,717 525 Hardware stores................. 1,193 1,181 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 43,979 42,814 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 41,257 40,099 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,722 2,715 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,163 9,826 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,138 5,024 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,106 3,902 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 113,830 113,144 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,715 23,505 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,337 18,160 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,624 18,472 533 Variety stores.................. 639 637 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,739 4,708 54 Food stores....................... 33,260 32,971 541 Grocery stores.................. 31,469 31,213 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,165 11,888 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,115 9,123 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 1,031 1,020 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,891 2,842 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,528 1,569 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,142 19,325 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,877 6,846 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,810 1,829 5961 Total mail order................... 3,816 3,765 53,56,57, GAF................................ 49,816 49,142 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--AUGUST 1995 (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) 457-2713/2666. TABLE 1B: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--AUGUST 1995 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1995 SIC Kind of business code Aug. July June adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 204,436 195,464 203,432 Total (excl. auto group).. 152,630 146,516 149,276 Durable goods, total........ 84,148 79,414 86,048 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,173 10,922 11,867 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,494 8,979 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,203 1,325 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,806 48,948 54,156 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,659 45,948 51,089 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 39,433 43,925 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,000 3,067 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,864 10,288 10,359 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,208 5,194 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,251 4,341 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 902 864 Nondurable goods, total..... 120,288 116,050 117,384 53 General merchandise group stores.. 24,729 23,015 23,871 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,242 17,784 18,387 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 18,036 18,664 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 555 599 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,676 4,885 54 Food stores....................... 35,046 35,157 34,572 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,233 33,333 32,728 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,184 13,224 13,368 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,518 8,284 8,737 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 819 938 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,516 2,719 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,900 2,955 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,484 1,577 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,422 21,147 20,879 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,950 6,676 6,927 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,911 1,870 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,380 3,482 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 47,854 49,415 594 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1994 SIC Kind of business code Aug. July Retail trade, total........... 193,782 185,811 Total (excl. auto group).. 146,871 141,321 Durable goods, total........ 78,171 73,712 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,466 10,868 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,853 8,303 525 Hardware stores................. 1,222 1,250 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 46,911 44,490 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 43,939 41,623 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 38,426 36,274 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,972 2,867 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,121 9,547 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,313 4,999 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 3,987 3,746 5722 Household appliance stores.... 816 837 Nondurable goods, total..... 115,611 112,099 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,224 21,542 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,007 16,526 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,324 16,812 533 Variety stores.................. 615 581 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,602 4,435 54 Food stores....................... 33,768 34,341 541 Grocery stores.................. 31,973 32,555 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,077 12,613 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,652 8,399 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 924 875 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,897 2,569 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,258 2,886 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,825 1,492 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,310 20,504 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,788 6,538 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,830 1,952 5961 Total mail order................... 3,469 3,012 53,56,57, GAF................................ 49,718 45,420 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--AUGUST 1995 (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) 457-2713/2666. TABLE 2: PERCENT CHANGE IN ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--AUGUST 1995 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Aug. July 1995 1995 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business July Aug. June July CODE 1995 1994 1995 1994 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.6 +5.0 -0.4 +5.7 Total (excl. auto group).. 0.0 +3.4 0.0 +4.2 Durable goods, total........ +1.7 +7.4 -0.8 +8.2 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.8 -2.4 +0.3 +0.8 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +2.4 +10.3 -1.5 +10.6 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.5 +10.6 -1.6 +11.0 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.8 +6.4 -0.4 +8.1 Nondurable goods, total..... -0.1 +3.4 -0.1 +4.1 53 General merchandise group stores.. -0.4 +5.4 +0.4 +6.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.).. -0.4 +6.0 +0.6 +7.5 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.).. (NA) (NA) +0.7 +7.4 54 Food stores....................... 0.0 +2.5 +0.6 +3.4 541 Grocery stores................... +0.1 +2.6 +0.7 +3.4 554 Gasoline service stations......... -1.2 +1.3 -2.1 +4.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -1.5 -2.0 -1.5 -0.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.5 +4.6 +0.7 +4.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.8 +2.5 -0.4 +2.1 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Aug. July 1995 1995 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business July Aug. June July CODE 1995 1994 1995 1994 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +4.6 +5.5 -3.9 +5.2 Total (excl. auto group).. +4.2 +3.9 -1.8 +3.7 Durable goods, total........ +6.0 +7.6 -7.7 +7.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +2.3 -2.6 -8.0 +0.5 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +5.8 +10.4 -9.6 +10.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +5.9 +10.7 -10.1 +10.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +5.6 +7.3 -0.7 +7.8 Nondurable goods, total..... +3.7 +4.0 -1.1 +3.5 53 General merchandise group stores.. +7.4 +6.5 -3.6 +6.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +8.2 +6.9 -3.3 +7.6 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -3.4 +7.3 54 Food stores....................... -0.3 +3.8 +1.7 +2.4 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.3 +3.9 +1.8 +2.4 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.3 +0.8 -1.1 +4.8 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +14.9 -1.4 -5.2 -1.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ +1.3 +5.5 +1.3 +3.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +4.1 +2.4 -3.6 +2.1 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--AUGUST 1995 (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.