INTENTION TO REVISE ESTIMATES. The annual revision of the monthly retail sales estimates will be published in the press release the week of April 26. Unadjusted estimates will be revised for the months of January 1993 through March 1999, while corresponding adjusted data will be revised for January 1990 through March 1999. ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - FEBRUARY 1999 The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for February adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $236.5 billion, an increase of 0.9 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 7.3 percent (+/-0.9%) from February 1998. Total sales for the December through February period were up 7.2 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The December to January percent change was revised from +0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) to +1.0 percent (+/-0.3%). Durable goods increased 1.2 percent (+/-1.4%) from January and were 8.9 percent above last year. Building materials were up 11.1 percent from February a year ago, while automotive sales were up 10.1 percent during the same period. Nondurable goods increased 0.7 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were up 6.1 percent from February 1998. General merchandise sales were up 8.3 percent from February a year ago. 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 March is scheduled to be released April 13, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--FEBRUARY 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 1998 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Dec. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 236,469 234,348 231,997 Total (excl. auto group).. 177,089 176,000 174,069 Durable goods, total........ 100,732 99,505 98,639 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,000 14,829 14,591 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,406 11,283 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,345 1,317 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 59,380 58,348 57,928 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 56,032 54,984 54,604 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,364 3,324 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,892 13,748 13,725 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,472 6,562 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,353 6,233 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 135,737 134,843 133,358 53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,234 31,075 30,286 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,533 24,442 23,844 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 24,752 24,271 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,081 1,041 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,552 5,401 54 Food stores....................... 38,144 37,803 37,819 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,685 35,391 35,448 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,505 12,403 12,436 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,919 10,810 10,420 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 957 939 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,785 2,697 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,812 1,764 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,477 21,314 21,445 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,352 9,230 9,106 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,143 2,230 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,843 4,651 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 64,200 62,693 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Feb.(r) Jan.(r) Retail trade, total........... 220,401 218,377 Total (excl. auto group).. 166,460 164,931 Durable goods, total........ 92,499 91,646 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,502 13,321 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 10,253 10,173 525 Hardware stores................. 1,223 1,177 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,941 53,446 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,740 50,352 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,201 3,094 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,154 13,008 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,383 6,286 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,817 5,746 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 127,902 126,731 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,839 28,429 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,798 22,491 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,352 22,844 533 Variety stores.................. 965 945 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,076 4,993 54 Food stores....................... 36,129 35,969 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,804 33,674 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,497 12,660 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,328 10,085 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 907 903 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,634 2,669 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,817 1,726 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,194 20,003 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,545 8,498 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,079 2,028 5961 Total mail order................... 4,525 4,277 53,56,57, GAF................................ 60,720 59,508 594 * 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--FEBRUARY 1999 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 1998 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Dec. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 205,990 205,048 276,589 Total (excl. auto group).. 152,357 154,927 224,188 Durable goods, total........ 87,442 84,106 107,731 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,250 10,891 13,391 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 8,543 10,110 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,122 1,396 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,633 50,121 52,401 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,821 47,231 49,253 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 41,071 43,111 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,890 3,148 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,267 12,778 19,305 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,825 7,953 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,118 9,592 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 794 1,056 Nondurable goods, total..... 118,548 120,942 168,858 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,139 24,205 50,148 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,577 18,698 40,440 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 18,962 41,076 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 799 1,763 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,708 7,945 54 Food stores....................... 34,394 36,807 41,203 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,188 34,648 38,142 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,004 11,547 12,274 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,266 7,850 16,757 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 819 1,652 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,050 4,401 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 2,923 7,190 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,312 2,290 58 Eating and drinking places........ 19,437 19,673 21,381 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,819 8,990 11,128 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,888 3,026 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,378 6,832 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 51,721 103,931 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Feb. Jan. Retail trade, total........... 191,274 194,449 Total (excl. auto group).. 142,668 147,052 Durable goods, total........ 79,948 79,575 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 10,044 10,076 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 7,854 7,874 525 Hardware stores................. 921 999 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 48,606 47,397 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 45,920 44,662 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 39,302 39,026 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,686 2,735 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,503 12,237 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,521 5,764 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,154 5,585 5722 Household appliance stores.... 754 817 Nondurable goods, total..... 111,326 114,874 53 General merchandise group stores.. 22,977 22,077 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 18,033 17,138 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 18,348 17,420 533 Variety stores.................. 792 710 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,152 4,229 54 Food stores....................... 32,574 35,464 541 Grocery stores.................. 30,491 33,405 554 Gasoline service stations......... 10,997 11,888 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 7,748 7,479 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 703 778 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,012 1,999 565 Family clothing stores.......... 2,808 2,712 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,430 1,284 58 Eating and drinking places........ 18,255 18,563 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,049 8,405 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,738 1,819 5961 Total mail order................... 3,724 3,948 53,56,57, GAF................................ 48,754 48,294 594 * 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--FEBRUARY 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb. Jan. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan. Feb. Dec. Jan. CODE 1999 1998 1998 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.9 +7.3 +1.0 +7.3 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.6 +6.4 +1.1 +6.7 Durable goods, total........ +1.2 +8.9 +0.9 +8.6 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +1.2 +11.1 +1.6 +11.3 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +1.8 +10.1 +0.7 +9.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +1.9 +10.4 +0.7 +9.2 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.0 +5.6 +0.2 +5.7 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.7 +6.1 +1.1 +6.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.5 +8.3 +2.6 +9.3 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.4 +7.6 +2.5 +8.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +2.0 +8.4 54 Food stores....................... +0.9 +5.6 0.0 +5.1 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.8 +5.6 -0.2 +5.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... +0.8 +0.1 -0.3 -2.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +1.0 +5.7 +3.7 +7.2 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.8 +6.4 -0.6 +6.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.3 +9.4 +1.4 +8.6 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb. Jan. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan. Feb. Dec. Jan. CODE 1999 1998 1998 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.5 +7.7 -25.9 +5.5 Total (excl. auto group).. -1.7 +6.8 -30.9 +5.4 Durable goods, total........ +4.0 +9.4 -21.9 +5.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +3.3 +12.0 -18.7 +8.1 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +7.0 +10.3 -4.4 +5.7 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +7.6 +10.7 -4.1 +5.8 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -4.0 +6.6 -33.8 +4.4 Nondurable goods, total..... -2.0 +6.5 -28.4 +5.3 53 General merchandise group stores.. +3.9 +9.4 -51.7 +9.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +4.7 +8.6 -53.8 +9.1 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -53.8 +8.9 54 Food stores....................... -6.6 +5.6 -10.7 +3.8 541 Grocery stores.................. -7.1 +5.6 -9.2 +3.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... -4.7 +0.1 -5.9 -2.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +5.3 +6.7 -53.2 +5.0 58 Eating and drinking places........ -1.2 +6.5 -8.0 +6.0 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -1.9 +9.6 -19.2 +7.0 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--FEBRUARY 1999 (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.