ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - SEPTEMBER 1996 NOTE THE FOLLOWING CHANGE: Beginning November 15, 1996, this document will no longer be available on CENDATA. This document and all future releases can be retrieved on the day of issue from the Census Bureau's World-Wide-Web site, http://www.census.gov/svsd/www/fullpub.html and through the Department of Commerce's online Economic Bulletin Board (STAT-USA) -- 202-482-1986. The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for September adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $205.7 billion, an increase of 0.7 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 4.7 percent (+/-0.8%) from September 1995. Total sales for the third quarter were 4.3 percent (+/-0.7%) above the same quarter a year ago. The July to August 1996 percent change was revised from +0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) to -0.2 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods increased 0.9 percent (+/-1.3%) from August and were 7.0 percent above last year. Automotive sales were up 7.7 percent from last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.6 percent (+/-0.7%) from last month and were up 3.2 percent from last year. General merchandise sales were up 4.2 percent from September 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 October is scheduled to be released November 14, 1996 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--SEPTEMBER 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Sep. Aug. July adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 205,709 204,252 204,719 Total (excl. auto group).. 154,897 154,275 154,988 Durable goods, total........ 84,184 83,468 83,539 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,144 11,131 11,381 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,611 8,754 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,176 1,201 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,812 49,977 49,731 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,823 46,902 46,653 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,075 3,078 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,480 11,517 11,399 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,661 5,644 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,944 4,849 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 121,525 120,784 121,180 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,023 25,949 25,752 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,282 20,173 19,999 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,493 20,353 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 693 708 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,083 5,045 54 Food stores....................... 35,647 35,239 35,403 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,777 33,375 33,545 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,954 12,873 12,973 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,355 9,367 9,411 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 846 831 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,645 2,695 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,599 1,630 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,648 19,542 19,685 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,493 7,519 7,437 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,986 1,969 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,968 4,117 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 54,995 54,641 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Sep.(r) Aug.(r) Retail trade, total........... 196,431 197,081 Total (excl. auto group).. 149,247 148,808 Durable goods, total........ 78,710 79,687 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,354 10,349 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,947 7,856 525 Hardware stores................. 1,139 1,146 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 47,184 48,273 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 44,248 45,363 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,936 2,910 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,083 10,986 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,516 5,391 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,655 4,626 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 117,721 117,394 53 General merchandise group stores.. 24,974 24,738 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,445 19,239 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 19,777 19,568 533 Variety stores.................. 645 620 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,884 4,879 54 Food stores....................... 34,247 34,301 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,438 32,511 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,272 12,392 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,271 9,054 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 844 833 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,887 2,851 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,550 1,559 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,633 19,659 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,094 7,013 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,899 1,871 5961 Total mail order................... 3,933 3,977 53,56,57, GAF................................ 52,703 52,095 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--SEPTEMBER 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--SEPTEMBER 1996 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Sep. Aug. July adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 196,982 213,564 206,440 Total (excl. auto group).. 147,533 160,115 153,331 Durable goods, total........ 81,458 88,342 87,183 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,333 12,069 12,571 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,420 9,778 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,232 1,284 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 49,449 53,449 53,109 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 46,484 50,091 49,779 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 43,258 43,179 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,358 3,330 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,906 11,602 10,927 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,904 5,661 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,850 4,471 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 736 720 Nondurable goods, total..... 115,524 125,222 119,257 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,687 26,155 23,410 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,457 20,395 18,019 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,777 18,341 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 687 639 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,073 4,752 54 Food stores....................... 34,121 36,814 36,363 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,358 34,944 34,518 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,954 13,929 13,855 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,812 10,270 8,569 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 796 688 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,679 2,412 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,928 3,246 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,988 1,563 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,334 21,223 20,630 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,991 7,429 7,251 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,093 2,056 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,444 3,425 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 56,197 50,153 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Sep. Aug. Retail trade, total........... 192,776 204,178 Total (excl. auto group).. 145,489 152,504 Durable goods, total........ 78,241 84,383 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,838 11,339 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,368 8,720 525 Hardware stores................. 1,144 1,172 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 47,287 51,674 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 44,292 48,493 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 38,500 42,080 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,995 3,181 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,753 11,009 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,527 5,596 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,376 4,524 5722 Household appliance stores.... 695 785 Nondurable goods, total..... 114,535 119,795 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,059 24,526 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 17,948 19,066 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,275 19,417 533 Variety stores.................. 588 601 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,523 4,859 54 Food stores....................... 33,875 35,045 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,146 33,259 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,419 13,346 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,171 9,616 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 782 755 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,838 2,822 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,230 3,386 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,593 1,885 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,653 21,015 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,711 6,894 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,886 1,903 5961 Total mail order................... 3,736 3,500 53,56,57, GAF................................ 49,672 52,417 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--SEPTEMBER 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--SEPTEMBER 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Sep. Aug. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Aug. Sep. July Aug. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.7 +4.7 -0.2 +3.6 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.4 +3.8 -0.5 +3.7 Durable goods, total........ +0.9 +7.0 -0.1 +4.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.1 +7.6 -2.2 +7.6 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +1.7 +7.7 +0.5 +3.5 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.0 +8.1 +0.5 +3.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.3 +3.6 +1.0 +4.8 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.6 +3.2 -0.3 +2.9 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.3 +4.2 +0.8 +4.9 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.5 +4.3 +0.9 +4.9 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.7 +4.7 54 Food stores....................... +1.2 +4.1 -0.5 +2.7 541 Grocery stores.................. +1.2 +4.1 -0.5 +2.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... +0.6 +5.6 -0.8 +3.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -0.1 +0.9 -0.5 +3.5 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.5 +0.1 -0.7 -0.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.3 +5.6 +1.1 +7.2 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Sep. Aug. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Aug. Sep. July Aug. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -7.8 +2.2 +3.5 +4.6 Total (excl. auto group).. -7.9 +1.4 +4.4 +5.0 Durable goods, total........ -7.8 +4.1 +1.3 +4.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -6.1 +4.6 -4.0 +6.4 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -7.5 +4.6 +0.6 +3.4 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -7.2 +4.9 +0.6 +3.3 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -6.0 +1.4 +6.2 +5.4 Nondurable goods, total..... -7.7 +0.9 +5.0 +4.5 53 General merchandise group stores.. -9.4 +2.7 +11.7 +6.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -9.5 +2.8 +13.2 +7.0 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +13.3 +7.0 54 Food stores....................... -7.3 +0.7 +1.2 +5.0 541 Grocery stores.................. -7.4 +0.7 +1.2 +5.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... -7.0 +4.3 +0.5 +4.4 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -14.2 -3.9 +19.9 +6.8 58 Eating and drinking places........ -8.9 -1.6 +2.9 +1.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -5.9 +4.2 +2.5 +7.8 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--SEPTEMBER 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.