*************************************************************************************************** NOTE: In order to incorporate information from the 1997 economic census, we will delay the release of revised data, originally scheduled for the week of April 26, until this summer. A new release date will be announced next month. *************************************************************************************************** ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - MARCH 1999 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 $239.6 billion, an increase of 0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 8.7 percent (+/-0.9%) from March 1998. Total sales for the first quarter were up 8.3 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same quarter a year ago. The January to February 1999 percent change was revised from +0.9 percent (+/-0.7%) to +1.7 percent (+/-0.4%). Durable goods decreased 0.2 percent (+/-1.4%) from February but were 11.0 percent above last year. Building materials were up 14.1 percent from March a year ago, while automotive sales were up 11.3 percent during the same period. Nondurable goods increased 0.6 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were up 7.0 percent from March 1998. General merchandise sales were up 9.3 percent from March 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 April is scheduled to be released May 13, 1999 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--MARCH 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 239,639 239,050 234,999 Total (excl. auto group).. 179,646 178,778 176,517 Durable goods, total........ 102,460 102,624 99,920 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,474 15,540 14,957 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,827 11,499 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,379 1,365 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 59,993 60,272 58,482 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 56,597 56,909 55,113 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,363 3,369 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,984 13,961 13,811 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,623 6,480 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,364 6,372 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 137,179 136,426 135,079 53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,546 31,316 31,157 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,841 24,629 24,497 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 24,985 24,838 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,130 1,087 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,557 5,573 54 Food stores....................... 38,174 38,382 37,817 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,814 35,962 35,412 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,607 12,419 12,421 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,094 10,923 10,850 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 955 959 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,776 2,784 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,797 1,816 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,536 21,615 21,305 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,591 9,496 9,337 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,194 2,146 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 5,111 4,891 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 64,995 64,365 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Mar.(r) Feb.(r) Retail trade, total........... 220,446 219,995 Total (excl. auto group).. 166,532 166,221 Durable goods, total........ 92,280 92,118 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,562 13,376 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 10,265 10,200 525 Hardware stores................. 1,267 1,218 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 53,914 53,774 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 50,730 50,573 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,184 3,201 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,039 13,095 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,291 6,331 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,801 5,817 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 128,166 127,877 53 General merchandise group stores.. 28,864 28,840 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,758 22,827 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 23,232 23,216 533 Variety stores.................. 957 950 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,149 5,063 54 Food stores....................... 36,369 36,166 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,004 33,841 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,340 12,554 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,335 10,265 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 946 908 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,635 2,627 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,753 1,788 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,212 20,171 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,548 8,536 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,032 2,069 5961 Total mail order................... 4,461 4,444 53,56,57, GAF................................ 60,490 60,430 594 * 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 1999 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Jan. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 240,314 208,214 205,242 Total (excl. auto group).. 174,726 153,602 155,064 Durable goods, total........ 105,554 89,268 84,197 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,932 11,702 10,941 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,119 8,590 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,044 1,138 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 65,588 54,612 50,178 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 62,144 51,787 47,287 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 44,156 41,164 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,825 2,891 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,495 12,313 12,790 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,802 5,806 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,658 6,111 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 761 793 Nondurable goods, total..... 134,760 118,946 121,045 53 General merchandise group stores.. 29,168 25,122 24,233 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 22,879 19,605 18,716 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 19,892 19,010 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 949 797 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,568 4,720 54 Food stores....................... 37,964 34,539 36,790 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,635 32,366 34,633 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,456 10,879 11,564 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,573 8,260 7,855 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 739 819 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ (*) 2,132 2,046 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,115 2,933 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,445 1,313 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,644 19,605 19,643 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,869 8,964 9,085 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,845 1,891 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 4,319 4,392 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 52,687 51,741 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Mar. Feb. Retail trade, total........... 216,181 191,274 Total (excl. auto group).. 158,636 142,668 Durable goods, total........ 92,819 79,948 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,676 10,044 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 9,700 7,854 525 Hardware stores................. 1,128 921 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 57,545 48,606 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 54,383 45,920 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 46,522 39,302 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,162 2,686 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,421 11,503 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,052 5,521 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,488 5,154 5722 Household appliance stores.... 834 754 Nondurable goods, total..... 123,362 111,326 53 General merchandise group stores.. 26,027 22,977 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 20,459 18,033 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 20,832 18,348 533 Variety stores.................. 872 792 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,696 4,152 54 Food stores....................... 35,583 32,574 541 Grocery stores.................. 33,324 30,491 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,007 10,997 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 9,327 7,748 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 807 703 562,3 Women's clothing, specialty stores........................ 2,385 2,012 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,477 2,808 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,669 1,430 58 Eating and drinking places........ 20,293 18,255 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,548 8,049 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,859 1,738 5961 Total mail order................... 4,434 3,724 53,56,57, GAF................................ 54,533 48,754 594 * 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 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.2 +8.7 +1.7 +8.7 Total (excl. auto group).. +0.5 +7.9 +1.3 +7.6 Durable goods, total........ -0.2 +11.0 +2.7 +11.4 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.4 +14.1 +3.9 +16.2 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.5 +11.3 +3.1 +12.1 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.5 +11.6 +3.3 +12.5 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.2 +7.2 +1.1 +6.6 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.6 +7.0 +1.0 +6.7 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.7 +9.3 +0.5 +8.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.9 +9.2 +0.5 +7.9 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.6 +7.6 54 Food stores....................... -0.5 +5.0 +1.5 +6.1 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.4 +5.3 +1.6 +6.3 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.5 +2.2 0.0 -1.1 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +1.6 +7.3 +0.7 +6.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.4 +6.6 +1.5 +7.2 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.0 +12.2 +1.7 +11.2 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Mar. Feb. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Feb. Mar. Jan. Feb. CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +15.4 +11.2 +1.4 +8.9 Total (excl. auto group).. +13.8 +10.1 -0.9 +7.7 Durable goods, total........ +18.2 +13.7 +6.0 +11.7 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +27.6 +17.8 +7.0 +16.5 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +20.1 +14.0 +8.8 +12.4 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +20.0 +14.3 +9.5 +12.8 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +9.6 +8.6 -3.7 +7.0 Nondurable goods, total..... +13.3 +9.2 -1.7 +6.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. +16.1 +12.1 +3.7 +9.3 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +16.7 +11.8 +4.7 +8.7 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +4.6 +8.4 54 Food stores....................... +9.9 +6.7 -6.1 +6.0 541 Grocery stores.................. +10.1 +6.9 -6.5 +6.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... +14.5 +3.7 -5.9 -1.1 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +28.0 +13.4 +5.2 +6.6 58 Eating and drinking places........ +10.4 +6.7 -0.2 +7.4 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +10.1 +15.5 -1.3 +11.4 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--MARCH 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.