ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - JULY 1997 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for July adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $212.1 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and 4.5 percent (+/-0.9%) from July 1996. Total sales for the May through July period were 3.7 percent (+/-0.7%) above the same period a year ago. The May to June 1997 percent change was revised from +0.5 percent (+/-0.7%) to +0.7 percent (+/-0.5%). Durable goods increased 0.7 percent (+/-1.4%) from June and were 4.8 percent above July 1996. Automotive dealers sales were up 5.0 percent from last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.6 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 4.2 percent above last year. General merchandise sales were up 6.8 percent from July 1996 while food sales were up 1.3 percent in the same period. 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 August is scheduled to be released September 12, 1997 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--JULY 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code July June May adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 212,075 210,739 209,370 Total (excl. auto group).. 160,945 160,103 159,445 Durable goods, total........ 86,296 85,684 84,759 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,240 12,127 12,018 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,329 9,390 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,302 1,267 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,130 50,636 49,925 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,174 47,667 46,973 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,969 2,952 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,666 11,716 11,693 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,997 5,982 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,874 4,841 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 125,779 125,055 124,611 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,759 27,562 27,352 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,894 21,719 21,547 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 21,973 21,863 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 730 721 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,113 5,084 54 Food stores....................... 35,834 35,706 35,763 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,760 33,611 33,685 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,929 12,831 12,843 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,753 9,734 9,621 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 917 900 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,717 2,703 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,637 1,604 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,383 20,310 20,228 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,194 8,122 8,097 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,985 1,986 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,623 4,486 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 57,089 56,622 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code July(r) June(r) Retail trade, total........... 203,017 202,698 Total (excl. auto group).. 154,308 154,033 Durable goods, total........ 82,332 82,315 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,474 11,500 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,705 8,665 525 Hardware stores................. 1,263 1,257 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 48,709 48,665 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,692 45,663 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,017 3,002 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,136 11,140 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,568 5,548 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,670 4,673 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 120,685 120,383 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,983 25,949 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,227 20,222 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,651 20,546 533 Variety stores.................. 715 698 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,041 5,029 54 Food stores....................... 35,371 35,113 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,474 33,188 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,737 12,992 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,457 9,502 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 849 834 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,738 2,859 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,626 1,597 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,589 19,479 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,578 7,470 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,907 1,910 5961 Total mail order................... 4,160 4,029 53,56,57, GAF................................ 54,445 54,385 594 * 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--JULY 1997 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1997 SIC Kind of business code July June May adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 214,958 212,283 219,101 Total (excl. auto group).. 160,112 157,775 164,132 Durable goods, total........ 90,621 90,063 91,155 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,709 13,695 14,192 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 10,355 10,798 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,463 1,493 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 54,846 54,508 54,969 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 51,642 51,385 51,858 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 44,146 44,686 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,123 3,111 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,223 11,014 11,205 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,781 5,964 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,479 4,454 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 894 814 Nondurable goods, total..... 124,337 122,220 127,946 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,592 26,138 27,253 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,967 20,416 21,353 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,750 21,699 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 691 730 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,031 5,170 54 Food stores....................... 37,064 35,401 37,462 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,009 33,342 35,336 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,782 13,485 13,562 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,963 9,035 9,620 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 870 882 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,600 2,857 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,370 3,510 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,611 1,719 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,463 20,838 21,563 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,956 7,838 8,259 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,957 2,067 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 3,897 3,975 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 53,384 55,421 594 1996 SIC Kind of business code July June Retail trade, total........... 204,817 204,705 Total (excl. auto group).. 152,803 152,745 Durable goods, total........ 86,024 85,962 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,718 12,892 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,758 9,514 525 Hardware stores................. 1,353 1,418 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,014 51,960 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,753 48,814 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 42,789 42,613 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,261 3,146 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,686 10,507 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,590 5,382 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,306 4,299 5722 Household appliance stores.... 790 788 Nondurable goods, total..... 118,793 118,743 53 General merchandise group stores.. 23,695 24,866 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,265 19,211 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,582 19,551 533 Variety stores.................. 646 651 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,784 5,004 54 Food stores....................... 36,289 35,310 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,411 33,420 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,629 13,642 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,616 8,941 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 701 806 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,453 2,765 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,206 3,165 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,566 1,592 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,470 20,219 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,381 7,164 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,002 1,927 5961 Total mail order................... 3,440 3,296 53,56,57, GAF................................ 50,048 51,297 594 * 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--JULY 1997 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) July June 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business June July May June CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.6 +4.5 +0.7 +4.0 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.5 +4.3 +0.4 +3.9 Durable goods, total........ +0.7 +4.8 +1.1 +4.1 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.9 +6.7 +0.9 +5.5 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +1.0 +5.0 +1.4 +4.1 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +1.1 +5.4 +1.5 +4.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.4 +4.8 +0.2 +5.2 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.6 +4.2 +0.4 +3.9 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.7 +6.8 +0.8 +6.2 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.8 +8.2 +0.8 +7.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.5 +6.9 54 Food stores....................... +0.4 +1.3 -0.2 +1.7 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.4 +0.9 -0.2 +1.3 554 Gasoline service stations......... +0.8 +1.5 -0.1 -1.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.2 +3.1 +1.2 +2.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.4 +4.1 +0.4 +4.3 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.9 +8.1 +0.3 +8.7 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) July June 1997 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business June July May June CODE 1997 1996 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +1.3 +5.0 -3.1 +3.7 Total (excl. auto group).. +1.5 +4.8 -3.9 +3.3 Durable goods, total........ +0.6 +5.3 -1.2 +4.8 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.1 +7.8 -3.5 +6.2 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +0.6 +5.4 -0.8 +4.9 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +0.5 +5.9 -0.9 +5.3 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.9 +5.0 -1.7 +4.8 Nondurable goods, total..... +1.7 +4.7 -4.5 +2.9 53 General merchandise group stores.. -2.1 +8.0 -4.1 +5.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -2.2 +9.3 -4.4 +6.3 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -4.4 +6.1 54 Food stores....................... +4.7 +2.1 -5.5 +0.3 541 Grocery stores.................. +5.0 +1.7 -5.6 -0.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... +2.2 +1.1 -0.6 -1.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -0.8 +4.0 -6.1 +1.1 58 Eating and drinking places........ +3.0 +4.9 -3.4 +3.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.5 +7.8 -5.1 +9.4 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--JULY 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.