ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - DECEMBER 1998 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for December adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $231.4 billion, an increase of 0.9 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 6.7 percent (+/-0.9%) from December 1997. Total sales for the 12 months of 1998 were 2.7 trillion, up 5.1 percent (+/-0.5%) from the 1997 total. The October to November 1998 percent change was unrevised from +0.6 percent (+/-0.3%) reported last month. Durable goods increased 1.8 percent (+/-1.4%) from November and were 8.5 percent above last year. Building materials were up 12.5 percent from December a year ago, while Automotive sales were up 8.2 percent during the same period. Nondurable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 5.4 percent above last year. General merchandise sales were up 7.2 percent from December a year ago, while gasoline sales were down 4.9 percent during the same period. The scheduled release dates for 1999 are as follows: February 11, March 11, April 13, May 13, June 11, July 14, August 12, September 14, October 14, November 12, and December 14. 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 January is scheduled to be released February 11, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--DECEMBER 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Oct. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 231,351 229,346 227,885 Total (excl. auto group).. 173,373 172,760 171,718 Durable goods, total........ 98,440 96,676 96,036 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,436 14,255 14,032 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,004 10,755 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,290 1,276 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 57,978 56,586 56,167 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 54,725 53,325 52,892 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,261 3,275 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,557 13,479 13,403 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,427 6,366 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,113 6,028 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 132,911 132,670 131,849 53 General merchandise group stores.. 30,123 30,170 29,755 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,721 23,645 23,379 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 24,088 23,775 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,077 1,031 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,448 5,345 54 Food stores....................... 37,692 37,560 37,346 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,306 35,204 34,962 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,255 12,289 12,379 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,375 10,435 10,316 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 978 973 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,620 2,558 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,719 1,743 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,337 21,248 21,079 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,130 9,103 9,001 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,172 2,124 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,607 4,668 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 62,339 61,790 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Dec.(r) Nov.(r) Retail trade, total........... 216,864 216,084 Total (excl. auto group).. 163,263 163,522 Durable goods, total........ 90,753 89,490 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,832 12,725 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,927 9,771 525 Hardware stores................. 1,151 1,204 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,601 52,562 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,492 49,439 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,109 3,123 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,755 12,587 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,248 6,144 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,547 5,509 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 126,111 126,594 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,098 28,103 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,257 22,248 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 22,717 22,670 533 Variety stores.................. 911 969 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,930 4,886 54 Food stores....................... 35,960 36,120 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,677 33,827 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,887 13,105 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,901 9,928 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 852 917 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,651 2,589 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,743 1,713 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,918 19,642 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,345 8,373 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,078 2,048 5961 Total mail order................... 3,975 4,102 53,56,57, GAF................................ 58,560 58,570 594 * 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--DECEMBER 1998 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1998 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Oct. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 276,809 228,421 230,438 Total (excl. auto group).. 224,209 178,238 173,510 Durable goods, total........ 107,889 90,998 96,587 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,223 13,249 14,986 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 10,344 11,691 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,259 1,323 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 52,600 50,183 56,928 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 49,526 47,033 53,421 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 41,107 45,908 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,150 3,507 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 19,197 14,654 13,259 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 7,057 6,557 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,639 5,757 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 901 889 Nondurable goods, total..... 168,920 137,423 133,851 53 General merchandise group stores.. 50,239 35,053 29,420 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 40,515 27,807 23,005 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 28,274 23,392 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,199 1,054 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 6,047 5,361 54 Food stores....................... 41,053 36,839 37,808 541 Grocery stores.................. 37,954 34,535 35,417 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,083 11,834 12,775 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 16,704 11,592 10,573 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 1,101 992 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,819 2,607 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,998 4,283 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,669 1,680 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,209 20,122 21,690 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 11,193 8,848 8,947 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,148 2,141 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 5,625 5,153 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 70,346 60,736 594 1997 SIC Kind of business code Dec. Nov. Retail trade, total........... 258,278 215,632 Total (excl. auto group).. 210,166 169,362 Durable goods, total........ 98,932 83,766 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,756 11,739 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,885 9,116 525 Hardware stores................. 1,230 1,187 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 48,112 46,270 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,190 43,259 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 39,749 37,928 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,922 3,011 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 17,924 13,688 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 7,522 6,746 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 8,592 5,972 5722 Household appliance stores.... 1,055 896 Nondurable goods, total..... 159,346 131,866 53 General merchandise group stores.. 46,690 32,895 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 37,859 26,319 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 38,519 26,821 533 Variety stores.................. 1,539 1,089 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 7,292 5,487 54 Food stores....................... 38,789 35,910 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,832 33,658 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,771 12,581 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 16,039 11,137 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 1,569 1,049 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 4,356 2,809 565 Family clothing stores.......... 6,639 4,666 566 Shoe stores..................... 2,256 1,689 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,639 18,837 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,281 8,072 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,799 2,068 5961 Total mail order................... 6,146 4,951 53,56,57, GAF................................ 97,506 66,491 594 * 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--DECEMBER 1998 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Dec. Nov. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Nov. Dec. Oct. Nov. CODE 1998 1997 1998 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.9 +6.7 +0.6 +6.1 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.4 +6.2 +0.6 +5.6 Durable goods, total........ +1.8 +8.5 +0.7 +8.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +1.3 +12.5 +1.6 +12.0 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +2.5 +8.2 +0.7 +7.7 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.6 +8.4 +0.8 +7.9 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.6 +6.3 +0.6 +7.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.2 +5.4 +0.6 +4.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. -0.2 +7.2 +1.4 +7.4 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.3 +6.6 +1.1 +6.3 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.3 +6.3 54 Food stores....................... +0.4 +4.8 +0.6 +4.0 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.3 +4.8 +0.7 +4.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.3 -4.9 -0.7 -6.2 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... -0.6 +4.8 +1.2 +5.1 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.4 +7.1 +0.8 +8.2 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.3 +9.4 +1.1 +8.7 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Dec. Nov. 1998 1998 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Nov. Dec. Oct. Nov. CODE 1998 1997 1998 1997 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +21.2 +7.2 -0.9 +5.9 Total (excl. auto group).. +25.8 +6.7 +2.7 +5.2 Durable goods, total........ +18.6 +9.1 -5.8 +8.6 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.2 +12.5 -11.6 +12.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +4.8 +9.3 -11.8 +8.5 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +5.3 +9.6 -12.0 +8.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +31.0 +7.1 +10.5 +7.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +22.9 +6.0 +2.7 +4.2 53 General merchandise group stores.. +43.3 +7.6 +19.1 +6.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +45.7 +7.0 +20.9 +5.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +20.9 +5.4 54 Food stores....................... +11.4 +5.8 -2.6 +2.6 541 Grocery stores.................. +9.9 +5.9 -2.5 +2.6 554 Gasoline service stations......... +2.1 -5.4 -7.4 -5.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +44.1 +4.1 +9.6 +4.1 58 Eating and drinking places........ +5.4 +8.0 -7.2 +6.8 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +26.5 +8.9 -1.1 +9.6 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--DECEMBER 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.