ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - APRIL 1997 INTENTION TO REVISE ESTIMATES. We are changing the sample base and the sample design for the survey that produces the preliminary and final monthly retail sales estimates. The estimates for April and May 1997 and 1996 will be revised the week of June 23. The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for April adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $212.2 billion, a decrease of 0.3 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month but up 4.9 percent (+/-0.9%) from April 1996. Total sales for the February through April period were 5.5 percent (+/-0.5%) above the same period a year ago. The Febuary to March 1997 percent change was revised from +0.1 percent (+/-0.7%) to unchanged (+/-0.5%). Durable goods decreased 0.5 percent (+/-1.4%) from March but were 6.8 percent above April 1996. Nondurable goods decreased 0.3 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month but were 3.6 percent above 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 Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for May is scheduled to be released June 12, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--APRIL 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Apr. Mar. Feb. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 212,241 212,965 213,022 Total (excl. auto group).. 160,377 160,609 160,483 Durable goods, total........ 87,090 87,500 87,786 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,021 12,022 11,901 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,241 9,091 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,279 1,295 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,864 52,356 52,539 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,939 49,378 49,566 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,978 2,973 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,425 11,458 11,591 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,811 5,889 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,762 4,826 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 125,151 125,465 125,236 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,234 27,491 27,507 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,418 21,625 21,599 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 22,106 21,947 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 768 789 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,098 5,119 54 Food stores....................... 35,881 36,056 35,841 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,787 33,972 33,777 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,260 13,279 13,352 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,560 9,616 9,709 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 888 886 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,748 2,814 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,641 1,700 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,601 20,498 20,467 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,129 8,137 8,082 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,943 1,952 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,330 4,196 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 56,721 57,079 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Apr.(r) Mar.(r) Retail trade, total........... 202,375 201,685 Total (excl. auto group).. 153,915 151,765 Durable goods, total........ 81,580 82,641 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,048 10,683 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,326 8,137 525 Hardware stores................. 1,283 1,239 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 48,460 49,920 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,470 46,935 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,990 2,985 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,118 11,128 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,524 5,570 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,673 4,637 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 120,795 119,044 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,074 25,284 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,391 19,591 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,539 20,102 533 Variety stores.................. 681 680 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,002 5,013 54 Food stores....................... 35,092 34,823 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,206 32,949 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,057 12,747 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,565 9,322 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 840 846 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,822 2,686 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,645 1,588 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,646 19,607 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,411 7,380 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,901 1,902 5961 Total mail order................... 3,975 3,820 53,56,57, GAF................................ 54,451 53,444 594 * 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--APRIL 1997 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code Apr. Mar. Feb. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 207,390 210,155 183,530 Total (excl. auto group).. 152,724 155,175 136,278 Durable goods, total........ 88,260 86,954 75,424 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,875 11,014 8,870 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,622 6,964 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,138 978 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 54,666 54,980 47,252 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 51,680 52,044 44,758 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 45,242 39,122 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,936 2,494 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,317 10,929 9,933 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,567 5,000 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,529 4,179 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 779 692 Nondurable goods, total..... 119,130 123,201 108,106 53 General merchandise group stores.. 24,343 25,474 21,355 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,126 20,090 16,588 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,406 16,831 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 740 621 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,644 4,146 54 Food stores....................... 34,618 36,233 32,328 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,604 34,176 30,501 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,101 12,920 11,723 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,709 9,324 7,202 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 808 686 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,677 2,136 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,394 2,532 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,717 1,299 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,539 20,539 18,277 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,869 8,292 7,565 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,844 1,620 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,261 3,432 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 52,488 44,884 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code Apr. Mar. Retail trade, total........... 198,610 199,413 Total (excl. auto group).. 147,447 146,628 Durable goods, total........ 82,958 82,506 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,936 9,776 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,817 7,559 525 Hardware stores................. 1,347 1,104 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,163 52,785 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,107 49,845 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 41,745 43,763 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,056 2,940 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,143 10,617 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,209 5,347 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,140 4,396 5722 Household appliance stores.... 742 727 Nondurable goods, total..... 115,652 116,907 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,479 23,358 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,311 18,141 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,689 18,514 533 Variety stores.................. 641 635 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,527 4,582 54 Food stores....................... 34,031 34,982 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,177 33,147 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,887 12,454 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,026 8,843 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 765 756 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,732 2,597 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,170 3,181 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,680 1,591 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,489 19,940 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,329 7,417 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,772 1,811 5961 Total mail order................... 3,645 3,763 53,56,57, GAF................................ 49,134 49,179 594 * 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--APRIL 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Apr. Mar. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Mar. Apr. Feb. Mar. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -0.3 +4.9 0.0 +5.6 Total (excl. auto group).. -0.1 +4.2 +0.1 +5.8 Durable goods, total........ -0.5 +6.8 -0.3 +5.9 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 0.0 +8.8 +1.0 +12.5 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.9 +7.0 -0.3 +4.9 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.9 +7.6 -0.4 +5.2 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.3 +2.8 -1.1 +3.0 Nondurable goods, total..... -0.3 +3.6 +0.2 +5.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. -0.9 +4.4 -0.1 +8.7 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -1.0 +5.0 +0.1 +10.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.7 +10.0 54 Food stores....................... -0.5 +2.2 +0.6 +3.5 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.5 +1.7 +0.6 +3.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.1 +1.6 -0.5 +4.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -0.6 -0.1 -1.0 +3.2 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.5 +4.9 +0.2 +4.5 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.1 +9.7 +0.7 +10.3 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Apr. Mar. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Mar. Apr. Feb. Mar. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -1.3 +4.4 +14.5 +5.4 Total (excl. auto group).. -1.6 +3.6 +13.9 +5.8 Durable goods, total........ +1.5 +6.4 +15.3 +5.4 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +16.9 +7.9 +24.2 +12.7 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.6 +6.8 +16.4 +4.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.7 +7.4 +16.3 +4.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -5.6 +1.7 +10.0 +2.9 Nondurable goods, total..... -3.3 +3.0 +14.0 +5.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. -4.4 +3.7 +19.3 +9.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -4.8 +4.5 +21.1 +10.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +21.2 +10.2 54 Food stores....................... -4.5 +1.7 +12.1 +3.6 541 Grocery stores.................. -4.6 +1.3 +12.0 +3.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.4 +1.7 +10.2 +3.7 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -6.6 -3.5 +29.5 +5.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ 0.0 +5.4 +12.4 +3.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -5.1 +7.4 +9.6 +11.8 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--APRIL 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.