ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - NOVEMBER 1996 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for November adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $206.1 billion, a decrease of 0.4 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month but up 4.0 percent (+/-1.0%) from November 1995. Total sales for the September through November period were 4.7 percent (+/-0.7%) above the same period a year ago. The September to October 1996 percent change was revised from +0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) to +0.3 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods decreased 1.1 percent (+/-1.3%) from October but were 3.9 percent above last year. Automotive sales decreased 2.6 percent from last month but were 2.5 percent (+/-3.0%) above November 1995. Nondurable goods increased 0.1 percent (+/-0.7%) from last month and were up 4.0 percent from last year. General merchandise sales were up 4.3 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 scheduled release dates for 1997 are as follows: January 14, February 13, March 13, April 11, May 13, June 12, July 15, August 13, September 12, October 15, November 14, and December 11. The Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for December is scheduled to be released January 14, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. ============ TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--NOVEMBER 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 206,063 206,842 206,127 Total (excl. auto group).. 156,600 156,069 155,406 Durable goods, total........ 83,525 84,456 84,189 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,199 11,204 11,227 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,564 8,631 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,199 1,181 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 49,463 50,773 50,721 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 46,360 47,655 47,658 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,118 3,063 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,603 11,469 11,522 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,676 5,631 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,921 5,019 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 122,538 122,386 121,938 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,844 25,990 25,897 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,172 20,257 20,200 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,670 20,582 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 698 679 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,035 5,018 54 Food stores....................... 35,679 35,748 35,705 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,815 33,886 33,839 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,384 13,230 13,026 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,374 9,458 9,519 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 845 861 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,707 2,738 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,551 1,550 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,637 19,709 19,752 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,696 7,634 7,507 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,952 1,929 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,993 4,009 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 54,930 54,956 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Nov.(r) Oct.(r) Retail trade, total........... 198,211 196,225 Total (excl. auto group).. 149,965 148,756 Durable goods, total........ 80,381 79,059 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,566 10,465 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,064 8,058 525 Hardware stores................. 1,195 1,132 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 48,246 47,469 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,257 44,506 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,989 2,963 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,232 11,076 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,600 5,485 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,726 4,699 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 117,830 117,166 53 General merchandise group stores.. 24,772 24,621 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,363 19,173 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 19,831 19,539 533 Variety stores.................. 638 638 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,771 4,810 54 Food stores....................... 34,563 34,457 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,743 32,653 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,139 12,170 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,237 9,053 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 852 839 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,773 2,804 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,586 1,546 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,592 19,590 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,173 7,092 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,919 1,900 5961 Total mail order................... 3,958 3,919 53,56,57, GAF................................ 52,839 52,175 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--NOVEMBER 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--NOVEMBER 1996 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1996 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 210,817 208,549 197,365 Total (excl. auto group).. 165,761 156,656 147,999 Durable goods, total........ 80,817 85,587 81,618 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,897 12,148 11,508 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,472 8,916 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,228 1,128 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 45,056 51,893 49,366 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 41,956 48,560 46,324 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 42,685 40,637 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,333 3,042 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,019 11,450 10,990 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,897 5,518 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,764 4,663 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 726 692 Nondurable goods, total..... 130,000 122,962 115,747 53 General merchandise group stores.. 30,755 25,656 23,553 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,368 19,892 18,382 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,250 18,714 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 699 610 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,065 4,561 54 Food stores....................... 35,972 35,524 34,174 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,086 33,649 32,418 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,143 13,508 12,935 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,865 9,506 9,008 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 831 777 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,745 2,598 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,741 3,395 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,475 1,508 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,048 19,946 19,416 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,534 7,542 6,989 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,915 1,804 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,492 3,716 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 53,840 50,575 594 1995 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Retail trade, total........... 202,359 193,987 Total (excl. auto group).. 157,990 147,165 Durable goods, total........ 77,921 77,791 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,213 11,058 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,879 8,695 525 Hardware stores................. 1,191 1,135 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 44,369 46,822 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 41,365 43,749 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 36,724 38,347 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,004 3,073 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,485 10,857 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,255 5,567 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,255 4,483 5722 Household appliance stores.... 768 691 Nondurable goods, total..... 124,438 116,196 53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,817 23,969 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,584 18,617 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 24,017 18,939 533 Variety stores.................. 732 619 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,501 4,733 54 Food stores....................... 34,297 33,634 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,481 31,837 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,872 12,389 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,616 8,880 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 975 817 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 3,111 2,784 565 Family clothing stores.......... 4,189 3,207 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,618 1,430 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,750 19,766 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,037 6,922 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,919 1,828 5961 Total mail order................... 5,332 4,330 53,56,57, GAF................................ 61,382 50,240 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--NOVEMBER 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--NOVEMBER 1996 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -0.4 +4.0 +0.3 +5.4 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.3 +4.4 +0.4 +4.9 Durable goods, total........ -1.1 +3.9 +0.3 +6.8 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 0.0 +6.0 -0.2 +7.1 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -2.6 +2.5 +0.1 +7.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -2.7 +2.4 0.0 +7.1 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.2 +3.3 -0.5 +3.5 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.1 +4.0 +0.4 +4.5 53 General merchandise group stores.. -0.6 +4.3 +0.4 +5.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -0.4 +4.2 +0.3 +5.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.4 +5.8 54 Food stores....................... -0.2 +3.2 +0.1 +3.7 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.2 +3.3 +0.1 +3.8 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.2 +10.3 +1.6 +8.7 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -0.9 +1.5 -0.6 +4.5 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.4 +0.2 -0.2 +0.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.8 +7.3 +1.7 +7.6 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1996 1996 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1996 1995 1996 1995 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +1.1 +4.2 +5.7 +7.5 Total (excl. auto group).. +5.8 +4.9 +5.8 +6.4 Durable goods, total........ -5.6 +3.7 +4.9 +10.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -10.3 +6.7 +5.6 +9.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -13.2 +1.5 +5.1 +10.8 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -13.6 +1.4 +4.8 +11.0 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +13.7 +4.3 +4.2 +5.5 Nondurable goods, total..... +5.7 +4.5 +6.2 +5.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. +19.9 +3.1 +8.9 +7.0 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +22.5 +3.3 +8.2 +6.8 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +8.2 +6.9 54 Food stores....................... +1.3 +4.9 +4.0 +5.6 541 Grocery stores.................. +1.3 +4.9 +3.8 +5.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... -2.7 +10.7 +4.4 +9.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +14.3 +2.3 +5.5 +7.0 58 Eating and drinking places........ -4.5 +1.6 +2.7 +0.9 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.1 +7.1 +7.9 +9.0 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--NOVEMBER 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.