ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - MAY 1996 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for May adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $205.5 billion, an increase of 0.8 percent (+/-1.3%) from the previous month and up 5.5 percent (+/-1.9%) from May 1995. Total sales for the March through May period were 5.9 percent (+/-1.7%) above the same period a year ago. The March to April 1996 percent change was revised from -0.3 percent (+/-1.3%) to -0.1 percent (+/-0.6%). Durable goods increased 1.9 percent (+/-2.5%) from April and were up 8.8 percent from last year. Automotive sales were up 8.4 percent from May 1995. Nondurable goods were unchanged (+/-1.3%) from last month but were up 3.4 percent from last year. General merchandise sales increased 1.2 percent from April and were 4.9 percent above May 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 June is scheduled to be released July 12, 1996 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MAY 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code May Apr. Mar. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 205,478 203,928 204,228 Total (excl. auto group).. 155,108 154,581 152,951 Durable goods, total........ 84,189 82,588 84,108 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,107 10,841 10,511 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,292 8,162 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,218 1,137 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,370 49,347 51,277 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,348 46,329 48,231 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,018 3,046 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,529 11,347 11,375 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,571 5,611 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,853 4,839 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 121,289 121,340 120,120 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,982 25,671 25,317 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,224 20,023 19,659 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,282 20,010 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 672 689 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,976 4,969 54 Food stores....................... 35,072 35,240 34,956 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,213 33,378 33,103 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,499 13,449 13,025 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,485 9,473 9,318 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 833 828 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,739 2,658 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,631 1,605 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,451 19,608 19,750 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,411 7,348 7,318 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,964 1,960 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,999 3,897 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 54,356 53,888 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code May (r) Apr.(r) Retail trade, total........... 194,725 192,372 Total (excl. auto group).. 148,276 146,951 Durable goods, total........ 77,400 76,062 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,210 10,235 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,840 7,850 525 Hardware stores................. 1,134 1,119 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 46,449 45,421 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 43,590 42,572 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,859 2,849 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,619 10,418 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,284 5,231 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,480 4,353 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 117,325 116,310 53 General merchandise group stores.. 24,760 24,564 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,166 19,067 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 19,474 19,324 533 Variety stores.................. 635 623 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,959 4,874 54 Food stores....................... 34,136 34,031 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,409 32,263 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,574 12,369 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,174 9,010 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 822 828 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,941 2,899 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,604 1,566 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,600 19,446 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,028 6,973 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,844 1,846 5961 Total mail order................... 3,799 3,673 53,56,57, GAF................................ 51,843 51,121 594 TABLE 1B: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MAY 1996 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code May Apr. Mar. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 214,980 200,347 201,334 Total (excl. auto group).. 158,967 148,189 147,447 Durable goods, total........ 91,446 84,049 83,755 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,406 11,832 9,671 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,889 7,574 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,268 1,048 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 56,013 52,158 53,887 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 52,840 49,062 50,884 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 42,150 44,162 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,096 3,003 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,045 10,332 10,883 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,265 5,420 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,266 4,583 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 676 664 Nondurable goods, total..... 123,534 116,298 117,579 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,638 23,221 23,129 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,799 18,081 17,949 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 18,462 18,326 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 632 628 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,508 4,552 54 Food stores....................... 36,490 34,181 35,079 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,575 32,343 33,269 554 Gasoline service stations......... 14,079 13,207 12,660 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,324 8,974 8,796 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 764 742 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,692 2,557 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,220 3,221 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,662 1,587 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,404 19,432 20,106 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,574 7,297 7,355 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,836 1,860 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,743 3,749 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 49,181 49,331 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code May Apr. Retail trade, total........... 201,372 187,534 Total (excl. auto group).. 150,236 141,182 Durable goods, total........ 83,389 75,039 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,293 10,606 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,039 7,952 525 Hardware stores................. 1,333 1,150 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,136 46,352 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,123 43,509 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 41,811 37,682 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,013 2,843 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,142 9,401 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,273 4,896 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,122 3,770 5722 Household appliance stores.... 728 645 Nondurable goods, total..... 117,983 112,495 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,911 22,743 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,380 17,637 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,715 17,972 533 Variety stores.................. 622 607 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,909 4,499 54 Food stores....................... 34,880 33,452 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,122 31,682 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,152 11,998 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,890 8,827 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 783 790 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 3,041 2,890 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,864 2,864 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,628 1,679 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,306 19,485 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,155 6,847 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,846 1,733 5961 Total mail order................... 3,442 3,247 53,56,57, GAF................................ 49,657 46,988 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MAY 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--MAY 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) May Apr. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Apr. May Mar. Apr. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.8 +5.5 -0.1 +6.0 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.3 +4.6 +1.1 +5.2 Durable goods, total........ +1.9 +8.8 -1.8 +8.6 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +2.5 +8.8 +3.1 +5.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +2.1 +8.4 -3.8 +8.6 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.2 +8.6 -3.9 +8.8 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.6 +8.6 -0.2 +8.9 Nondurable goods, total..... 0.0 +3.4 +1.0 +4.3 53 General merchandise group stores.. +1.2 +4.9 +1.4 +4.5 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +1.0 +5.5 +1.9 +5.0 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.4 +5.0 54 Food stores....................... -0.5 +2.7 +0.8 +3.6 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.5 +2.5 +0.8 +3.5 554 Gasoline service stations......... +0.4 +7.4 +3.3 +8.7 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.1 +3.4 +1.7 +5.1 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.8 -0.8 -0.7 +0.8 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.9 +5.4 +0.4 +5.4 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) May Apr. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Apr. May Mar. Apr. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +7.3 +6.8 -0.5 +6.8 Total (excl. auto group).. +7.3 +5.8 +0.5 +5.0 Durable goods, total........ +8.8 +9.7 +0.4 +12.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +13.3 +9.1 +22.3 +11.6 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +7.4 +9.5 -3.2 +12.5 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +7.7 +9.8 -3.6 +12.8 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +6.9 +8.9 -5.1 +9.9 Nondurable goods, total..... +6.2 +4.7 -1.1 +3.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. +10.4 +7.2 +0.4 +2.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +9.5 +7.7 +0.7 +2.5 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.7 +2.7 54 Food stores....................... +6.8 +4.6 -2.6 +2.2 541 Grocery stores.................. +6.9 +4.4 -2.8 +2.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... +6.6 +7.0 +4.3 +10.1 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +3.9 +4.9 +2.0 +1.7 58 Eating and drinking places........ +5.0 +0.5 -3.4 -0.3 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +3.8 +5.9 -0.8 +6.6 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MAY 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.