ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES SUMMARY - NOVEMBER 1999 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 $255.8 billion, an increase of 0.9 percent (+/-0.7%) from the previous month and up 9.2 percent (+/-0.9%) from November 1998. Total sales for the September through November period were up 9.4 percent (+/-0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The September to October 1999 percent change was revised from unchanged (+/-0.7%) to +0.3 percent (+/-0.2%). Durable goods increased 1.5 percent (+/-1.4%) from October and were 10.1 percent above last year. Automotive sales were up 12.0 percent from November a year ago, while furniture sales were up 8.4 percent from last year. Nondurable goods increased 0.4 percent (+/-0.6%) from October and were up 8.6 percent from November 1998. Gasoline sales were up 20.3 percent from November a year ago, while drug store sales were up 8.5 percent from last year. The schedule release dates for 2000 are as follows: January 13, February 11, March 14, April 13, May 11, June 13, July 14, August 11, September 14, October 13, November 14, and December 13. 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 13, 2000 at 8:30 a.m. TABLE 1A: ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--NOVEMBER 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 255,787 253,609 252,803 Total (excl. auto dealers).191,457 190,769 189,277 Durable goods, total........ 107,366 105,776 105,837 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,200 15,062 14,942 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 11,599 11,418 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,258 1,279 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 64,330 62,840 63,526 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 61,075 59,629 60,304 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,211 3,222 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 14,033 13,962 13,974 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,589 6,576 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,327 6,352 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 148,421 147,833 146,966 53 General merchandise group stores.. 32,373 32,195 32,127 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 25,205 25,059 25,065 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 25,559 25,579 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,223 1,173 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,913 5,889 54 Food stores....................... 39,063 38,881 38,723 541 Grocery stores.................. 37,034 36,884 36,720 554 Gasoline service stations......... 16,038 15,859 15,775 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,392 11,299 11,296 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 942 936 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ (*) 2,976 2,964 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,750 1,763 58 Eating and drinking places........ 24,741 24,609 23,980 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,033 10,114 10,032 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,330 2,328 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,373 7,452 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 66,219 66,018 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Nov.(r) Oct.(r) Retail trade, total........... 234,250 232,881 Total (excl. auto dealers).176,817 175,650 Durable goods, total........ 97,527 97,070 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,266 14,046 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 10,829 10,605 525 Hardware stores................. 1,233 1,227 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 57,433 57,231 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 54,320 54,095 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,113 3,136 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 12,950 12,878 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,049 6,007 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,905 5,817 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 136,723 135,811 53 General merchandise group stores.. 30,178 29,839 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,660 23,450 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 24,118 23,909 533 Variety stores.................. 1,035 986 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,483 5,403 54 Food stores....................... 37,065 36,938 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,133 34,962 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,337 13,386 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 10,709 10,625 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 921 919 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ 2,884 2,825 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,759 1,785 58 Eating and drinking places........ 22,983 22,660 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,251 9,097 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,166 2,118 5961 Total mail order................... 6,230 6,271 53,56,57, GAF................................ 62,043 61,592 594 * 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 1999 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of Dollars) 1999 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Sep. adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 257,037 251,023 245,736 Total (excl. auto dealers) 198,137 189,860 182,624 Durable goods, total........ 103,350 102,878 104,272 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,425 15,478 15,538 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 12,133 11,943 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,279 1,275 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 58,900 61,163 63,112 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 55,700 57,840 59,822 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 49,744 51,805 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,323 3,290 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 15,408 13,410 13,433 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,596 6,431 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,840 5,996 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 952 943 Nondurable goods, total..... 153,687 148,145 141,464 53 General merchandise group stores.. 36,953 31,342 29,250 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 29,011 24,257 22,684 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 24,721 23,110 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,243 1,077 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,842 5,489 54 Food stores....................... 38,479 38,867 38,256 541 Grocery stores.................. 36,478 36,884 36,353 554 Gasoline service stations......... 15,637 16,255 15,822 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 12,634 11,260 10,756 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 965 852 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ (*) 2,911 2,786 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,574 4,229 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,629 1,677 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,504 25,273 23,524 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,822 9,881 9,520 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,321 2,223 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,764 7,266 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 63,820 61,034 594 1998 SIC Kind of business code Nov. Oct. Retail trade, total........... 232,852 234,928 Total (excl. auto dealers) 181,899 177,226 Durable goods, total........ 91,559 97,193 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 13,171 14,867 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 10,125 11,453 525 Hardware stores................. 1,200 1,268 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 50,953 57,702 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 47,965 54,365 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 42,148 47,027 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,988 3,337 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,978 12,639 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,618 6,145 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 6,354 5,503 5722 Household appliance stores.... 922 911 Nondurable goods, total..... 141,293 137,735 53 General merchandise group stores.. 34,787 29,271 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 27,587 22,864 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 28,143 23,324 533 Variety stores.................. 1,152 1,015 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 6,048 5,392 54 Food stores....................... 36,396 37,388 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,501 35,416 554 Gasoline service stations......... 12,844 13,841 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,870 10,816 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 1,048 945 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ 3,063 2,833 565 Family clothing stores.......... 5,068 4,339 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,708 1,708 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,742 23,385 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 8,936 9,033 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,149 2,148 5961 Total mail order................... 7,551 6,835 53,56,57, GAF................................ 69,645 60,159 594 * 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 1999 Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.9 +9.2 +0.3 +8.9 Total (excl. auto dealers). +0.4 +8.3 +0.8 +8.6 Durable goods, total........ +1.5 +10.1 -0.1 +9.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.9 +6.5 +0.8 +7.2 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +2.4 +12.0 -1.1 +9.8 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +2.4 +12.4 -1.1 +10.2 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.5 +8.4 -0.1 +8.4 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.4 +8.6 +0.6 +8.9 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.6 +7.3 +0.2 +7.9 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.6 +6.5 0.0 +6.9 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -0.1 +6.9 54 Food stores....................... +0.5 +5.4 +0.4 +5.3 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.4 +5.4 +0.4 +5.5 554 Gasoline service stations......... +1.1 +20.3 +0.5 +18.5 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.8 +6.4 0.0 +6.3 58 Eating and drinking places........ +0.5 +7.6 +2.6 +8.6 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.8 +8.5 +0.8 +11.2 Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Nov. Oct. 1999 1999 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Oct. Nov. Sep. Oct. CODE 1999 1998 1999 1998 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +2.4 +10.4 +2.2 +6.9 Total (excl. auto delears). +4.4 +8.9 +4.0 +7.1 Durable goods, total........ +0.5 +12.9 -1.3 +5.8 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -6.8 +9.5 -0.4 +4.1 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -3.7 +15.6 -3.1 +6.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -3.7 +16.1 -3.3 +6.4 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +14.9 +10.2 -0.2 +6.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +3.7 +8.8 +4.7 +7.6 53 General merchandise group stores.. +17.9 +6.2 +7.2 +7.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +19.6 +5.2 +6.9 +6.1 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +7.0 +6.0 54 Food stores....................... -1.0 +5.7 +1.6 +4.0 541 Grocery stores.................. -1.1 +5.7 +1.5 +4.1 554 Gasoline service stations......... -3.8 +21.7 +2.7 +17.4 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +12.2 +6.4 +4.7 +4.1 58 Eating and drinking places........ -7.0 +8.1 +7.4 +8.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... -0.6 +9.9 +3.8 +9.4 NA Not available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Retail Sales--NOVEMBER 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. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2713/2666.