ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - MARCH 1996 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 $203.0 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent (+/-1.4%) from the previous month and up 5.2 percent (+/-1.9%) from March 1995. Total sales for the first quarter of 1996 were 4.8 percent (+/-1.8%) above the same quarter a year ago. The January to February 1996 percent change was revised from +0.8 percent (+/-1.3%) to +1.9 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods were unchanged from Feburary but were 8.1 percent above March 1995. Automotive sales were up 10.9 percent from last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-1.2%) from last month and were up 3.3 percent from last year. General merchandise sales were 3.9 percent above March 1995. 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 14, 1996 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 203,044 202,894 199,129 Total (excl. auto group).. 152,046 151,642 150,040 Durable goods, total........ 83,045 83,078 80,623 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,203 10,378 10,241 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 7,994 7,866 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,184 1,178 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,998 51,252 49,089 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,972 48,200 46,066 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,052 3,023 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,264 11,054 10,989 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,475 5,410 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,694 4,705 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 119,999 119,816 118,506 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,374 25,461 24,834 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,714 19,881 19,402 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,243 19,865 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 654 650 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,926 4,782 54 Food stores....................... 34,822 34,804 35,020 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,005 32,981 33,182 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,717 12,483 12,517 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,431 9,589 9,212 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 862 830 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,877 2,691 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,597 1,566 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,781 19,759 19,537 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,228 7,206 7,138 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,971 1,971 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,920 3,815 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 53,627 52,613 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Mar.(r) Feb.(r) Retail trade, total........... 192,980 191,035 Total (excl. auto group).. 147,000 146,196 Durable goods, total........ 76,845 75,629 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,550 10,450 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,097 8,061 525 Hardware stores................. 1,141 1,125 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 45,980 44,839 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 43,094 42,049 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,886 2,790 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,478 10,494 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,234 5,236 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,406 4,413 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 116,135 115,406 53 General merchandise group stores.. 24,426 24,146 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,911 18,795 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 19,332 19,081 533 Variety stores.................. 618 612 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,897 4,739 54 Food stores....................... 33,849 33,960 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,105 32,194 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,433 12,314 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,256 9,042 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 841 865 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,974 2,953 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,609 1,456 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,363 19,072 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,929 6,987 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,868 1,833 5961 Total mail order................... 3,654 3,619 53,56,57, GAF................................ 51,212 50,716 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1996 (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--MARCH 1996 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 199,878 181,732 174,839 Total (excl. auto group).. 146,803 133,880 131,644 Durable goods, total........ 82,169 74,397 69,646 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,397 8,108 7,983 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 6,427 6,246 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 926 986 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,075 47,852 43,195 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,131 45,163 40,538 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 39,517 35,894 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,689 2,657 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,746 9,841 10,153 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 4,851 4,826 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,192 4,531 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 598 636 Nondurable goods, total..... 117,709 107,335 105,193 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,420 20,386 18,514 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,235 15,706 14,144 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 16,038 14,413 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 542 458 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,138 3,912 54 Food stores....................... 34,962 32,672 33,681 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,203 31,002 32,054 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,361 11,372 11,678 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,941 7,329 6,472 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 687 675 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,230 1,892 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,593 2,272 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,273 1,129 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,999 18,297 17,583 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,242 6,997 6,995 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,705 1,705 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,316 3,716 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 43,574 41,171 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Retail trade, total........... 192,131 163,989 Total (excl. auto group).. 142,223 124,000 Durable goods, total........ 78,537 64,613 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,006 7,800 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,725 6,191 525 Hardware stores................. 1,057 847 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 49,908 39,989 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,016 37,634 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 40,882 33,010 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,892 2,355 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,114 9,006 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,093 4,466 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,221 3,804 5722 Household appliance stores.... 715 606 Nondurable goods, total..... 113,594 99,376 53 General merchandise group stores.. 22,341 18,465 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 17,341 14,190 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 17,661 14,455 533 Variety stores.................. 563 479 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,437 3,796 54 Food stores....................... 34,018 30,664 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,330 29,103 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,097 10,836 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,547 6,627 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 733 659 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,840 2,200 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,807 2,192 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,537 1,104 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,421 17,012 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,033 6,526 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,758 1,527 5961 Total mail order................... 3,676 2,960 53,56,57, GAF................................ 46,883 39,542 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1996 (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--MARCH 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.1 +5.2 +1.9 +6.2 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.3 +3.4 +1.1 +3.7 Durable goods, total........ 0.0 +8.1 +3.0 +9.8 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -1.7 -3.3 +1.3 -0.7 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.5 +10.9 +4.4 +14.3 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.5 +11.3 +4.6 +14.6 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.9 +7.5 +0.6 +5.3 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.2 +3.3 +1.1 +3.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. -0.3 +3.9 +2.5 +5.4 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -0.8 +4.2 +2.5 +5.8 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.9 +6.1 54 Food stores....................... +0.1 +2.9 -0.6 +2.5 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.1 +2.8 -0.6 +2.4 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.9 +2.3 -0.3 +1.4 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -1.6 +1.9 +4.1 +6.0 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.1 +2.2 +1.1 +3.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.3 +4.3 +1.0 +3.1 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +10.0 +4.0 +3.9 +10.8 Total (excl. auto group).. +9.7 +3.2 +1.7 +8.0 Durable goods, total........ +10.4 +4.6 +6.8 +15.1 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +15.9 -6.1 +1.6 +3.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +10.9 +6.3 +10.8 +19.7 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +11.0 +6.6 +11.4 +20.0 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +9.2 +6.2 -3.1 +9.3 Nondurable goods, total..... +9.7 +3.6 +2.0 +8.0 53 General merchandise group stores.. +14.9 +4.8 +10.1 +10.4 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +16.1 +5.2 +11.0 +10.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +11.3 +11.0 54 Food stores....................... +7.0 +2.8 -3.0 +6.5 541 Grocery stores.................. +7.1 +2.7 -3.3 +6.5 554 Gasoline service stations......... +8.7 +2.2 -2.6 +4.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +22.0 +4.6 +13.2 +10.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ +9.3 +3.0 +4.1 +7.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +3.5 +3.0 0.0 +7.2 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 1996 (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.