ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - NOVEMBER 1998 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for November adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $229.4 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 6.3 percent (+/-0.9%) from November 1997. Total sales for the September through November period were up 5.5 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The September to October percent change was revised from +1.0 percent (+/-0.7%) to + 1.2 percent (+/-0.2%). Durable goods increased 1.0 percent (+/-1.4%) from October and were 8.4 percent above last year. Building materials were up 10.7 percent from November a year ago, while furniture sales were up 7.4 percent during the same period. Nondurable goods increased 0.4 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 4.8 percent above last year. General merchandise sales were up 7.1 percent from November a year ago, while gasoline sales were down 5.1 percent during 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 December is scheduled to be released January 14, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--NOVEMBER 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 229,350 227,900 225,141 Total (excl. auto group).. 172,655 171,912 170,546 Durable goods, total........ 96,761 95,847 94,066 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,090 13,969 13,886 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 10,715 10,718 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,292 1,335 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 56,695 55,988 54,595 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 53,418 52,733 51,339 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,255 3,256 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,512 13,400 13,383 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,358 6,313 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,029 6,060 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 132,589 132,053 131,075 53 General merchandise group stores.. 30,157 29,730 29,637 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,690 23,396 23,322 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 23,773 23,688 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,021 985 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,313 5,330 54 Food stores....................... 37,623 37,393 37,246 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,232 34,995 34,843 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,426 12,424 12,414 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,386 10,306 10,084 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 977 972 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,554 2,533 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,754 1,661 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,992 21,181 20,710 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,076 9,001 8,978 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,115 2,102 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,724 4,735 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 61,765 61,391 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Nov.(r) Oct.(r) Retail trade, total........... 215,828 215,115 Total (excl. auto group).. 163,494 163,329 Durable goods, total........ 89,253 88,372 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,728 12,704 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,781 9,800 525 Hardware stores................. 1,198 1,261 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,334 51,786 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 49,214 48,648 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,120 3,138 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,586 12,413 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,155 6,042 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,514 5,423 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 126,575 126,743 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,160 28,105 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,248 22,199 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 22,700 22,605 533 Variety stores.................. 982 968 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,930 4,938 54 Food stores....................... 36,082 36,010 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,793 33,722 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,092 13,256 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,924 9,862 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 916 918 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,596 2,567 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,699 1,701 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,663 19,789 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,382 8,298 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,054 2,055 5961 Total mail order................... 3,961 4,188 53,56,57, GAF................................ 58,615 58,232 594 * 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--NOVEMBER 1998 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 228,885 230,679 217,924 Total (excl. auto group).. 178,221 173,790 163,678 Durable goods, total........ 91,394 96,574 92,864 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,019 14,964 14,636 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,679 11,382 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,342 1,315 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,664 56,889 54,246 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,489 53,419 50,928 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 45,879 43,797 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,470 3,318 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 14,674 13,268 12,854 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,568 6,193 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,758 5,721 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 888 851 Nondurable goods, total..... 137,491 134,105 125,060 53 General merchandise group stores.. 35,066 29,460 26,642 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 27,907 23,045 20,803 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 23,431 21,148 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,054 893 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,361 4,946 54 Food stores....................... 36,948 37,888 36,359 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,598 35,485 34,076 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,991 12,797 12,364 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,487 10,587 9,554 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 998 860 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,613 2,409 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,277 3,668 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,684 1,598 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,858 21,774 20,379 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,804 8,947 8,475 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,140 2,003 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 5,154 4,565 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 60,811 56,434 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Retail trade, total........... 215,632 217,578 Total (excl. auto group).. 169,362 164,550 Durable goods, total........ 83,766 89,509 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,739 13,642 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,116 10,692 525 Hardware stores................. 1,187 1,300 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 46,270 53,028 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 43,259 49,670 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 37,928 43,247 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,011 3,358 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,688 12,299 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,746 6,217 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,972 5,206 5722 Household appliance stores.... 896 853 Nondurable goods, total..... 131,866 128,069 53 General merchandise group stores.. 32,895 27,762 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 26,319 21,822 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 26,821 22,225 533 Variety stores.................. 1,089 987 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,487 4,953 54 Food stores....................... 35,910 36,228 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,658 33,924 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,581 13,640 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,137 9,986 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 1,049 921 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,809 2,600 565 Family clothing stores.......... 4,666 3,942 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,689 1,607 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,837 20,125 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,072 8,248 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,068 2,041 5961 Total mail order................... 4,951 4,640 53,56,57, GAF................................ 66,491 57,098 594 * 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--NOVEMBER 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1998 1997 1998 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.6 +6.3 +1.2 +5.9 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.4 +5.6 +0.8 +5.3 Durable goods, total........ +1.0 +8.4 +1.9 +8.5 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.9 +10.7 +0.6 +10.0 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +1.3 +8.3 +2.6 +8.1 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +1.3 +8.5 +2.7 +8.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.8 +7.4 +0.1 +8.0 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.4 +4.8 +0.7 +4.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +1.4 +7.1 +0.3 +5.8 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +1.3 +6.5 +0.3 +5.4 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.4 +5.2 54 Food stores....................... +0.6 +4.3 +0.4 +3.8 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.7 +4.3 +0.4 +3.8 554 Gasoline service stations......... 0.0 -5.1 +0.1 -6.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.8 +4.7 +2.2 +4.5 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.9 +6.8 +2.3 +7.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.8 +8.3 +0.3 +8.5 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1998 1997 1998 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... -0.8 +6.1 +5.9 +6.0 Total (excl. auto group).. +2.5 +5.2 +6.2 +5.6 Durable goods, total........ -5.4 +9.1 +4.0 +7.9 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -13.0 +10.9 +2.2 +9.7 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -10.9 +9.5 +4.9 +7.3 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -11.1 +9.8 +4.9 +7.5 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +10.6 +7.2 +3.2 +7.9 Nondurable goods, total..... +2.5 +4.3 +7.2 +4.7 53 General merchandise group stores.. +19.0 +6.6 +10.6 +6.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +21.1 +6.0 +10.8 +5.6 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +10.8 +5.4 54 Food stores....................... -2.5 +2.9 +4.2 +4.6 541 Grocery stores.................. -2.5 +2.8 +4.1 +4.6 554 Gasoline service stations......... -6.3 -4.7 +3.5 -6.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +8.5 +3.1 +10.8 +6.0 58 Eating and drinking places........ -8.8 +5.4 +6.8 +8.2 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -1.6 +9.1 +5.6 +8.5 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--NOVEMBER 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.