****************************************************************************** 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 - MARCH 1998 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for March adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $218.4 billion, a decrease of 0.1 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month but up 3.1 percent (+/-0.9%) from March 1997. Total sales for the first quarter were up 3.3 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same quarter a year ago. The January to February 1998 percent change was revised from +0.5 percent (+/-0.7%) to +0.7 percent (+/-0.3%). Durable goods decreased 0.4 percent (+/-1.4%) from February but were 4.2 percent above last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 2.3 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 April is scheduled to be released May 13, 1998 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 218,380 218,589 217,102 Total (excl. auto group).. 165,493 165,338 164,308 Durable goods, total........ 90,516 90,925 90,247 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,645 12,723 12,516 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,633 9,508 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,304 1,243 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,887 53,251 52,794 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 49,875 50,246 49,880 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,005 2,914 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,585 12,659 12,661 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,459 6,352 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,282 5,367 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 127,864 127,664 126,855 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,931 28,881 28,495 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,859 22,907 22,574 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 23,239 22,863 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 766 753 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,208 5,168 54 Food stores....................... 36,251 36,185 36,043 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,096 34,028 33,882 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,128 12,305 12,472 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,295 10,152 10,027 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 941 940 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,749 2,800 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,739 1,672 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,864 20,903 20,649 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,485 8,516 8,540 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,100 2,022 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,884 4,734 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 60,273 59,463 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Mar.(r) Feb.(r) Retail trade, total........... 211,914 212,151 Total (excl. auto group).. 160,056 159,619 Durable goods, total........ 86,885 87,520 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,044 11,871 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,266 9,115 525 Hardware stores................. 1,273 1,287 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 51,858 52,532 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 48,872 49,566 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,986 2,966 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,502 11,464 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,857 5,841 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,777 4,749 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 125,029 124,631 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,263 27,181 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,433 21,349 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 21,855 21,625 533 Variety stores.................. 764 770 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,066 5,062 54 Food stores....................... 36,138 35,834 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,051 33,777 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,194 13,306 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,598 9,625 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 893 885 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,743 2,814 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,634 1,665 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,321 20,353 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,095 8,048 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,952 1,952 5961 Total mail order................... 4,391 4,201 53,56,57, GAF................................ 56,497 56,478 594 * 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--MARCH 1998 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 214,305 189,133 192,808 Total (excl. auto group).. 157,892 141,184 145,997 Durable goods, total........ 90,967 78,341 77,996 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,848 9,478 9,497 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 7,369 7,378 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 992 1,064 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 56,413 47,949 46,811 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 53,416 45,422 44,244 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 39,398 39,096 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,527 2,567 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,956 11,019 11,720 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,548 5,787 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 4,680 5,083 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 740 799 Nondurable goods, total..... 123,338 110,792 114,812 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,271 22,905 21,994 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,733 17,982 17,066 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 18,245 17,295 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 621 556 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,302 4,372 54 Food stores....................... 35,647 32,642 35,656 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,585 30,727 33,713 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,922 10,828 11,711 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,338 7,604 7,404 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 731 816 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,089 2,075 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,761 2,687 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,360 1,227 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,822 18,792 19,183 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,493 8,005 8,455 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,743 1,830 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,000 4,398 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 48,221 47,750 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Retail trade, total........... 209,973 183,530 Total (excl. auto group).. 155,319 136,278 Durable goods, total........ 86,718 75,424 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,081 8,870 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,645 6,964 525 Hardware stores................. 1,143 978 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 54,654 47,252 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 51,707 44,758 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 44,931 39,122 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,947 2,494 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 10,949 9,933 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,629 5,000 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 4,500 4,179 5722 Household appliance stores.... 777 692 Nondurable goods, total..... 123,255 108,106 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,452 21,355 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,061 16,588 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,378 16,831 533 Variety stores.................. 740 621 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,651 4,146 54 Food stores....................... 36,404 32,328 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,323 30,501 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,970 11,723 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,348 7,202 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 808 686 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,699 2,136 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,379 2,532 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,729 1,299 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,402 18,277 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,281 7,565 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,854 1,620 5961 Total mail order................... 4,215 3,432 53,56,57, GAF................................ 52,549 44,884 594 * 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--MARCH 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1998 1997 1998 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -0.1 +3.1 +0.7 +3.0 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.1 +3.4 +0.6 +3.6 Durable goods, total........ -0.4 +4.2 +0.8 +3.9 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.6 +5.0 +1.7 +7.2 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.7 +2.0 +0.9 +1.4 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.7 +2.1 +0.7 +1.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.6 +9.4 0.0 +10.4 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.2 +2.3 +0.6 +2.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.2 +6.1 +1.4 +6.3 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). -0.2 +6.7 +1.5 +7.3 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.6 +7.5 54 Food stores....................... +0.2 +0.3 +0.4 +1.0 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.2 +0.1 +0.4 +0.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... -1.4 -8.1 -1.3 -7.5 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +1.4 +7.3 +1.2 +5.5 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.2 +2.7 +1.2 +2.7 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.4 +4.8 -0.3 +5.8 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1998 1997 1998 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +13.3 +2.1 -1.9 +3.1 Total (excl. auto group).. +11.8 +1.7 -3.3 +3.6 Durable goods, total........ +16.1 +4.9 +0.4 +3.9 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +25.0 +6.9 -0.2 +6.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +17.7 +3.2 +2.4 +1.5 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +17.6 +3.3 +2.7 +1.5 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +8.5 +9.2 -6.0 +10.9 Nondurable goods, total..... +11.3 +0.1 -3.5 +2.5 53 General merchandise group stores.. +14.7 +3.2 +4.1 +7.3 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +15.3 +3.3 +5.4 +8.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +5.5 +8.4 54 Food stores....................... +9.2 -2.1 -8.5 +1.0 541 Grocery stores.................. +9.3 -2.2 -8.9 +0.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... +10.1 -8.1 -7.5 -7.6 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +22.8 -0.1 +2.7 +5.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ +10.8 +2.1 -2.0 +2.8 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +6.1 +2.6 -5.3 +5.8 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 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.