ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - MAY 1997 FOR WIRE TRANSMISSION 8:30 A.M. EDT, Thursday, June 12, 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 seasonally adjusted May, April, and March 1997 estimates along with the May and April 1996 estimates will be revised the week of June 23. The not seasonally adjusted May and April 1997 estimates will also be revised. 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 $210.3 billion, a decrease of 0.1 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month but up 3.0 percent (+/-0.9%) from May 1996. Total sales for the March through May period were 4.1 percent (+/-0.5%) above the same period a year ago. The March to April 1997 percent change was revised from -0.3 percent (+/-0.7%) to -0.9 (+/-0.5%). Durable goods decreased 0.3 percent (+/-1.3%) from April but were 3.1 percent above May 1996. Nondurable goods were unchanged (+/-0.6%) from last month but were 3.0 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 June is scheduled to be released July 15, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MAY 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code May Apr. Mar. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 210,296 210,521 212,397 Total (excl. auto group).. 159,560 159,658 160,498 Durable goods, total........ 85,745 86,004 87,079 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,955 12,024 12,060 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,406 9,286 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,267 1,266 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,736 50,863 51,899 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,811 47,962 48,919 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,901 2,980 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,654 11,581 11,493 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,944 5,864 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,797 4,762 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 124,551 124,517 125,318 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,287 27,108 27,385 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,452 21,300 21,548 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 21,626 21,859 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 717 754 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,091 5,083 54 Food stores....................... 36,028 35,968 36,169 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,953 33,922 34,084 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,032 13,121 13,289 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,614 9,534 9,586 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 888 888 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,744 2,748 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,571 1,622 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,886 20,079 20,341 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,090 8,070 8,119 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,982 1,954 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,558 4,414 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 56,460 56,637 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code May (r) Apr.(r) Retail trade, total........... 204,073 202,443 Total (excl. auto group).. 154,637 153,980 Durable goods, total........ 83,135 81,613 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,153 11,070 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,563 8,318 525 Hardware stores................. 1,266 1,284 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 49,436 48,463 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 46,414 45,470 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,022 2,993 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,172 11,114 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,533 5,524 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,714 4,662 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 120,938 120,830 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,127 26,122 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,404 20,414 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,759 20,680 533 Variety stores.................. 687 689 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,036 5,019 54 Food stores....................... 35,008 35,092 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,108 33,206 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,282 13,070 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,577 9,592 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 860 847 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,842 2,834 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,634 1,649 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,642 19,666 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,479 7,403 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,900 1,897 5961 Total mail order................... 3,984 3,932 53,56,57, GAF................................ 54,604 54,522 594 * 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--MAY 1997 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code May Apr. Mar. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 220,532 205,543 209,973 Total (excl. auto group).. 164,519 151,939 155,319 Durable goods, total........ 92,495 87,100 86,718 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,214 12,782 11,081 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,848 8,645 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,316 1,143 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 56,013 53,604 54,654 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 52,927 50,648 51,707 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 43,334 44,931 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,956 2,947 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,153 10,562 10,949 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,599 5,629 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,245 4,500 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 754 777 Nondurable goods, total..... 128,037 118,443 123,255 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,214 24,247 25,452 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,280 19,000 20,061 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 19,312 20,378 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 635 740 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,612 4,651 54 Food stores....................... 37,706 34,683 36,404 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,583 32,735 34,323 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,866 12,911 12,970 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,720 8,648 9,348 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 775 808 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,601 2,699 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,139 3,379 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,491 1,729 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,198 19,979 20,402 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,228 7,836 8,281 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,825 1,854 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,239 4,215 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 50,335 52,549 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code May Apr. Retail trade, total........... 213,754 198,610 Total (excl. auto group).. 158,666 147,447 Durable goods, total........ 90,210 82,958 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,348 11,936 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,830 8,817 525 Hardware stores................. 1,479 1,347 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 55,088 51,163 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 51,891 48,107 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 45,430 41,745 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,197 3,056 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,639 10,143 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,489 5,209 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,323 4,140 5722 Household appliance stores.... 792 742 Nondurable goods, total..... 123,544 115,652 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,904 23,479 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,098 18,311 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,475 18,689 533 Variety stores.................. 705 641 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,101 4,527 54 Food stores....................... 36,348 34,031 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,399 32,177 554 Gasoline service stations......... 14,039 12,887 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,435 9,026 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 826 765 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,967 2,732 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,278 3,170 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,706 1,680 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,742 19,489 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,651 7,329 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,927 1,772 5961 Total mail order................... 3,582 3,645 53,56,57, GAF................................ 53,126 49,134 594 * 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--MAY 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) May Apr. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Apr. May Mar. Apr. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -0.1 +3.0 -0.9 +4.0 Total (excl. auto group).. -0.1 +3.2 -0.5 +3.7 Durable goods, total........ -0.3 +3.1 -1.2 +5.4 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.6 +7.2 -0.3 +8.6 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.2 +2.6 -2.0 +5.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.3 +3.0 -2.0 +5.5 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.6 +4.3 +0.8 +4.2 Nondurable goods, total..... 0.0 +3.0 -0.6 +3.1 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.7 +4.4 -1.0 +3.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.7 +5.1 -1.2 +4.3 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -1.1 +4.6 54 Food stores....................... +0.2 +2.9 -0.6 +2.5 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.1 +2.6 -0.5 +2.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.7 -1.9 -1.3 +0.4 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.8 +0.4 -0.5 -0.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ -1.0 +1.2 -1.3 +2.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.2 +8.2 -0.6 +9.0 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) May Apr. 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Apr. May Mar. Apr. CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +7.3 +3.2 -2.1 +3.5 Total (excl. auto group).. +8.3 +3.7 -2.2 +3.0 Durable goods, total........ +6.2 +2.5 +0.4 +5.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +11.2 +6.5 +15.4 +7.1 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +4.5 +1.7 -1.9 +4.8 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +4.5 +2.0 -2.0 +5.3 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +5.6 +4.8 -3.5 +4.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +8.1 +3.6 -3.9 +2.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. +12.2 +5.1 -4.7 +3.3 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +12.0 +5.9 -5.3 +3.8 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -5.2 +3.3 54 Food stores....................... +8.7 +3.7 -4.7 +1.9 541 Grocery stores.................. +8.7 +3.4 -4.6 +1.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... +7.4 -1.2 -0.5 +0.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +12.4 +3.0 -7.5 -4.2 58 Eating and drinking places........ +6.1 +2.2 -2.1 +2.5 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +5.0 +7.5 -5.4 +6.9 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MAY 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.