ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - FEBRUARY 1997 INTENTION TO REVISE ESTIMATES. The annual revision of the monthly retail sales estimates will be published in the press release the week of April 28. The estimates will be revised for the months of January 1993 through March 1997. The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for February adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $213.2 billion, an increase of 0.8 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 5.1 percent (+/-0.9%) from February 1996. Total sales for the December through February period were 5.2 percent (+/-0.7%) above the same period a year ago. The December 1996 to January 1997 percent change was revised from +0.6 (+/-0.7%) to +1.5 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods increased 1.6 percent (+/-1.3%) from January and were 5.5 percent above February 1996. Nondurable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-0.6%) from January and were 4.8 percent above February 1996. 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 March is scheduled to be released April 11, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--FEBRUARY 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Dec. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 213,175 211,456 208,319 Total (excl. auto group).. 160,183 159,359 157,218 Durable goods, total........ 87,595 86,179 84,945 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,583 11,330 11,154 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,718 8,565 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,255 1,232 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,992 52,097 51,101 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 49,863 49,048 48,061 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,049 3,040 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,465 11,429 11,381 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,815 5,731 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,766 4,778 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 125,580 125,277 123,374 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,488 27,015 26,235 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,604 21,168 20,713 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 21,278 21,059 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 722 696 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,125 4,826 54 Food stores....................... 35,908 35,989 35,852 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,948 33,979 33,935 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,702 13,730 13,461 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,630 9,589 9,327 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 898 793 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,792 2,711 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,577 1,574 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,221 20,344 20,104 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,857 7,811 7,663 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,025 1,956 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,963 3,991 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 56,158 55,206 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Feb.(r) Jan.(r) Retail trade, total........... 202,840 199,132 Total (excl. auto group).. 152,000 150,165 Durable goods, total........ 83,043 80,556 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,519 10,275 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,070 7,857 525 Hardware stores................. 1,194 1,175 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,840 48,967 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,804 45,961 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,036 3,006 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,161 10,933 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,497 5,321 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,751 4,720 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 119,797 118,576 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,340 24,898 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,706 19,402 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,170 19,591 533 Variety stores.................. 667 642 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,967 4,854 54 Food stores....................... 34,805 34,957 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,979 33,114 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,594 12,571 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,608 9,166 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 858 827 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,806 2,691 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,609 1,572 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,856 19,537 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,162 7,116 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,940 1,962 5961 Total mail order................... 3,995 3,839 53,56,57, GAF................................ 53,804 52,632 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. TABLE 1B: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--FEBRUARY 1997 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Dec. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 183,653 187,555 246,423 Total (excl. auto group).. 135,989 141,044 202,020 Durable goods, total........ 75,270 75,016 91,505 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 8,606 8,746 10,211 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 6,887 7,623 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,052 1,290 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 47,664 46,511 44,403 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,026 43,800 41,573 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 38,536 36,568 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,711 2,830 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 9,814 10,621 16,049 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,286 6,849 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,566 7,564 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 679 937 Nondurable goods, total..... 108,383 112,539 154,918 53 General merchandise group stores.. 21,297 20,539 44,492 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 16,549 15,791 35,813 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 15,997 36,333 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 540 1,204 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,208 7,475 54 Food stores....................... 32,420 35,306 38,104 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,689 33,503 35,598 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,003 12,783 13,205 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 7,155 6,906 15,051 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 746 1,487 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 1,982 4,321 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,512 6,313 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,148 2,012 58 Eating and drinking places........ 17,997 18,554 19,943 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,362 7,733 9,433 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,786 2,592 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,785 6,178 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 44,517 93,241 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Retail trade, total........... 181,901 174,839 Total (excl. auto group).. 134,156 131,644 Durable goods, total........ 74,500 69,646 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 8,151 7,983 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 6,440 6,246 525 Hardware stores................. 934 986 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 47,745 43,195 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,079 40,538 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 39,527 35,894 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,666 2,657 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 9,891 10,153 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 4,826 4,826 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,247 4,531 5722 Household appliance stores.... 593 636 Nondurable goods, total..... 107,401 105,193 53 General merchandise group stores.. 20,413 18,514 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 15,706 14,144 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 16,037 14,413 533 Variety stores.................. 555 458 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,152 3,912 54 Food stores....................... 32,674 33,681 541 Grocery stores.................. 31,000 32,054 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,435 11,678 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 7,352 6,472 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 684 675 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,194 1,892 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,646 2,272 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,279 1,129 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,347 17,583 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 6,961 6,995 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,674 1,705 5961 Total mail order................... 3,388 3,716 53,56,57, GAF................................ 43,827 41,171 594 * Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. NA Not available. r Revised. TABLE 2: PERCENT CHANGE IN ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--FEBRUARY 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb. Jan. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan. Feb. Dec. Jan. CODE 1997 1996 1996 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.8 +5.1 +1.5 +6.2 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.5 +5.4 +1.4 +6.1 Durable goods, total........ +1.6 +5.5 +1.5 +7.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +2.2 +10.1 +1.6 +10.3 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +1.7 +4.2 +1.9 +6.4 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +1.7 +4.3 +2.1 +6.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.3 +2.7 +0.4 +4.5 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.2 +4.8 +1.5 +5.7 53 General merchandise group stores.. +1.8 +8.5 +3.0 +8.5 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +2.1 +9.6 +2.2 +9.1 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.0 +8.6 54 Food stores....................... -0.2 +3.2 +0.4 +3.0 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.1 +2.9 +0.1 +2.6 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.2 +8.8 +2.0 +9.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.4 +0.2 +2.8 +4.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.6 +1.8 +1.2 +4.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.6 +9.7 +1.9 +9.8 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb. Jan. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan. Feb. Dec. Jan. CODE 1997 1996 1996 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -2.1 +1.0 -23.9 +7.3 Total (excl. auto group).. -3.6 +1.4 -30.2 +7.1 Durable goods, total........ +0.3 +1.0 -18.0 +7.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -1.6 +5.6 -14.3 +9.6 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +2.5 -0.2 +4.7 +7.7 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.8 -0.1 +5.4 +8.0 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -7.6 -0.8 -33.8 +4.6 Nondurable goods, total..... -3.7 +0.9 -27.4 +7.0 53 General merchandise group stores.. +3.7 +4.3 -53.8 +10.9 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +4.8 +5.4 -55.9 +11.6 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -56.0 +11.0 54 Food stores....................... -8.2 -0.8 -7.3 +4.8 541 Grocery stores.................. -8.4 -1.0 -5.9 +4.5 554 Gasoline service stations......... -6.1 +5.0 -3.2 +9.5 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +3.6 -2.7 -54.1 +6.7 58 Eating and drinking places........ -3.0 -1.9 -7.0 +5.5 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -4.8 +5.8 -18.0 +10.6 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--FEBRUARY 1997 (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.