****************************************************************************** INTENTION TO REVISE ESTIMATES. The annual revision of the monthly retail sales estimates will be published in the press release the week of April 27. Unadjusted estimates will be revised for the months of January 1993 through March 1998, while corresponding adjusted data will be revised for January 1990 through March 1998. ****************************************************************************** ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - JANUARY 1998 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for January adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $214.8 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 2.4 percent (+/-0.9%) from January 1997. Total sales for the November through January period were up 3.4 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The November to December 1997 percent change was revised from the +0.7 percent (+/-0.7%) to +0.3 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods declined 0.6 percent (+/-1.4%) from December but were 3.4 percent above last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.5 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 1.8 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 February is scheduled to be released March 12, 1998 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--JANUARY 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 1997 1997 SIC Kind of business code Jan. Dec. Nov. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 214,760 214,582 213,834 Total (excl. auto group).. 162,568 161,794 161,982 Durable goods, total........ 88,169 88,658 87,610 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,050 11,936 11,883 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,226 9,127 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,221 1,270 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,192 52,788 51,852 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 49,273 49,875 48,936 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,913 2,916 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,184 12,148 12,016 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,245 6,148 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,988 4,985 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 126,591 125,924 126,224 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,222 27,774 27,872 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,415 22,080 22,039 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 22,473 22,449 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 705 773 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,989 5,060 54 Food stores....................... 36,149 36,285 36,352 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,026 34,144 34,205 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,564 12,729 12,923 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,853 9,786 9,792 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 898 958 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,753 2,692 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,665 1,614 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,715 20,527 20,286 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,501 8,460 8,440 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,083 2,069 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,323 4,248 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 57,821 57,899 594 1997 1996 SIC Kind of business code Jan.(r) Dec.(r) Retail trade, total........... 209,663 206,672 Total (excl. auto group).. 158,787 156,945 Durable goods, total........ 85,268 83,505 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,651 11,356 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,866 8,597 525 Hardware stores................. 1,311 1,302 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,876 49,727 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,880 46,744 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,996 2,983 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,288 11,138 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,776 5,642 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,659 4,626 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 124,395 123,167 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,160 26,751 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,297 21,064 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 21,601 21,416 533 Variety stores.................. 737 714 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,126 4,973 54 Food stores....................... 35,843 35,698 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,824 33,742 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,371 13,255 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,664 9,395 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 903 820 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,847 2,743 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,595 1,581 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,169 19,982 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,922 7,813 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,932 1,911 5961 Total mail order................... 4,082 4,078 53,56,57, GAF................................ 56,166 55,384 594 * 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--JANUARY 1998 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 1997 1997 SIC Kind of business code Jan. Dec. Nov. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 190,944 257,453 214,093 Total (excl. auto group).. 144,641 209,998 168,301 Durable goods, total........ 76,137 97,742 82,391 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 9,146 11,086 11,066 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,340 8,543 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,302 1,264 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 46,303 47,455 45,792 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 43,705 44,688 42,966 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 39,839 37,996 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,767 2,826 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,270 17,232 13,212 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 7,594 6,800 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 7,921 5,483 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 1,033 876 Nondurable goods, total..... 114,807 159,711 131,702 53 General merchandise group stores.. 21,775 46,627 32,819 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 17,013 37,890 26,293 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 38,432 26,714 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,203 854 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 7,534 5,672 54 Food stores....................... 35,724 39,134 36,089 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,822 36,329 33,966 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,823 12,564 12,393 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 7,291 15,988 11,041 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 1,651 1,100 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 4,524 2,921 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 6,643 4,624 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 2,164 1,614 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,306 20,322 19,495 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,365 10,549 8,119 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,793 2,081 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 6,735 5,361 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 97,500 66,146 594 1997 1996 SIC Kind of business code Jan. Dec. Retail trade, total........... 186,064 244,719 Total (excl. auto group).. 140,539 201,187 Durable goods, total........ 74,051 90,163 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 8,859 10,350 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 6,862 7,608 525 Hardware stores................. 1,113 1,359 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 45,525 43,532 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 42,853 40,761 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 38,051 36,237 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,672 2,771 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,390 15,608 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,227 6,720 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,398 7,263 5722 Household appliance stores.... 740 1,031 Nondurable goods, total..... 112,013 154,556 53 General merchandise group stores.. 20,783 44,935 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 15,994 36,188 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 16,229 36,701 533 Variety stores.................. 545 1,218 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,244 7,529 54 Food stores....................... 35,132 38,008 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,317 35,463 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,529 12,990 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 6,957 15,130 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 751 1,514 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,030 4,406 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,480 6,234 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,161 2,017 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,576 19,822 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 7,827 9,602 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,702 2,525 5961 Total mail order................... 3,804 6,203 53,56,57, GAF................................ 44,565 92,927 594 * 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--JANUARY 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Jan. Dec. 1998 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Dec. Jan. Nov. Dec. CODE 1997 1997 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.1 +2.4 +0.3 +3.8 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.5 +2.4 -0.1 +3.1 Durable goods, total........ -0.6 +3.4 +1.2 +6.2 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +1.0 +3.4 +0.4 +5.1 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -1.1 +2.6 +1.8 +6.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -1.2 +2.9 +1.9 +6.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.3 +7.9 +1.1 +9.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.5 +1.8 -0.2 +2.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +1.6 +3.9 -0.4 +3.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +1.5 +5.2 +0.2 +4.8 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.1 +4.9 54 Food stores....................... -0.4 +0.9 -0.2 +1.6 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.3 +0.6 -0.2 +1.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... -1.3 -6.0 -1.5 -4.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.7 +2.0 -0.1 +4.2 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.9 +2.7 +1.2 +2.7 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.5 +7.3 +0.2 +8.3 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Jan. Dec. 1998 1997 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Dec. Jan. Nov. Dec. CODE 1997 1997 1997 1996 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -25.8 +2.6 +20.3 +5.2 Total (excl. auto group).. -31.1 +2.9 +24.8 +4.4 Durable goods, total........ -22.1 +2.8 +18.6 +8.4 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -17.5 +3.2 +0.2 +7.1 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -2.4 +1.7 +3.6 +9.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -2.2 +2.0 +4.0 +9.6 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -34.6 +8.5 +30.4 +10.4 Nondurable goods, total..... -28.1 +2.5 +21.3 +3.3 53 General merchandise group stores.. -53.3 +4.8 +42.1 +3.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -55.1 +6.4 +44.1 +4.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +43.9 +4.7 54 Food stores....................... -8.7 +1.7 +8.4 +3.0 541 Grocery stores.................. -6.9 +1.5 +7.0 +2.4 554 Gasoline service stations......... -5.9 -5.6 +1.4 -3.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -54.4 +4.8 +44.8 +5.7 58 Eating and drinking places........ -5.0 +3.9 +4.2 +2.5 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -20.7 +6.9 +29.9 +9.9 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--JANUARY 1998 (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.