CB-00-42FOR WIRE TRANSMISION 8:30 A.M. ET., Tuesday, March 14, 2000
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 $265.7 billion, an increase of 1.1 percent (±0.7%) from the previous month and up 9.4 percent (±0.9%) from February 1999. Total sales for the December through February period were up 10.0 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The December 1999 to January 2000 percent change was revised from +0.3 percent (±0.7%) to +0.4 percent (±0.3%).
Durable goods increased 0.7 percent (±1.4%) from January and were 10.2 percent above last year. Automotive sales were up 13.4 percent from February a year ago, while furniture sales were up 8.8 percent from last year.
Nondurable goods increased 1.4 percent (±0.6%) from January and were up 8.8 percent from February 1999. Gasoline sales were up 26.6 percent from February a year ago, while drug store sales were up 6.1 percent from last year.
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.
Percent Change in Retail Sales
(Data adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes)
This report is available the day of issue through the Department of Commerce's online Economic Bulletin Board. For information call (202) 482-1986.
TABLE 1A. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--February 2000
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2000 2000 1999 SIC Kind of business Feb Jan Dec code adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 265,687 262,824 261,812 Total (excl. auto dealers). 197,244 195,301 196,258 Durable goods, total........ 112,933 112,171 109,976 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,516 15,644 15,827 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 12,259 12,341 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,259 1,275 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 68,443 67,523 65,554 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 65,011 64,112 62,154 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,411 3,400 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 14,468 14,367 14,106 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,665 6,523 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,690 6,556 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 152,754 150,653 151,836 53 General merchandise group stores.. 33,201 32,987 32,699 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 25,814 25,738 25,461 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 26,223 26,007 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,264 1,226 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 5,985 6,012 54 Food stores....................... 39,440 38,754 40,648 541 Grocery stores.................. 37,265 36,605 38,520 554 Gasoline service stations......... 17,238 16,520 16,622 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,406 11,287 11,192 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 929 919 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ (*) 2,902 2,955 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,786 1,755 58 Eating and drinking places........ 25,073 25,085 24,775 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,189 10,181 10,330 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,299 2,461 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 8,117 7,627 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 67,529 67,008 594 1999 1999 SIC Kind of business code Feb(r) Jan(r) Retail trade, total........... 242,783 239,089 Total (excl. auto dealers). 182,418 179,987 Durable goods, total........ 102,438 100,117 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,458 14,845 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 11,508 11,210 525 Hardware stores................. 1,319 1,319 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 60,365 59,102 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 57,166 55,896 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,199 3,206 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,302 13,049 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,206 6,030 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 6,065 6,001 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 140,345 138,972 53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,077 30,990 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,370 24,239 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 24,862 24,748 533 Variety stores.................. 1,088 1,044 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,619 5,707 54 Food stores....................... 37,807 37,417 541 Grocery stores.................. 35,804 35,419 554 Gasoline service stations......... 13,617 13,512 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,147 11,055 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 918 922 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ 3,023 3,020 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,801 1,821 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,288 22,971 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,599 9,448 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,200 2,163 5961 Total mail order................... 6,767 6,521 53,56,57, GAF................................ 64,215 63,595 594 (*) 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 2000
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2000 2000 1999 SIC Kind of business Feb Jan Dec code adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 241,928 229,715 312,700 Total (excl. auto dealers). 176,103 171,855 253,362 Durable goods, total........ 104,091 94,725 120,254 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 12,335 11,517 14,360 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 9,219 10,971 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,034 1,350 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 65,825 57,860 59,338 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 62,801 54,944 56,125 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 47,529 48,866 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 2,916 3,213 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,354 13,448 20,084 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 5,992 8,004 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,556 10,168 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 896 1,200 Nondurable goods, total..... 137,837 134,990 192,446 53 General merchandise group stores.. 27,509 25,676 54,582 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 21,193 19,844 43,462 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 20,212 44,284 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 918 2,048 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 4,914 9,072 54 Food stores....................... 36,657 37,471 44,602 541 Grocery stores.................. 34,619 35,580 41,833 554 Gasoline service stations......... 15,514 15,165 16,622 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,897 8,170 18,130 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 775 1,607 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ (*) 2,142 4,872 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 3,130 7,840 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,307 2,317 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,619 22,953 24,874 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,985 9,886 12,664 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 1,984 3,419 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,378 11,029 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 54,289 112,259 594 1999 1999 SIC Kind of business code Feb Jan Retail trade, total........... 212,492 209,407 Total (excl. auto dealers). 157,085 158,474 Durable goods, total........ 89,961 84,709 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 11,665 10,879 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 8,919 8,419 525 Hardware stores................. 1,000 1,091 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 55,407 50,933 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 52,707 48,182 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 45,269 42,123 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 2,700 2,751 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 11,773 12,164 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 5,461 5,415 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,410 5,833 5722 Household appliance stores.... 784 813 Nondurable goods, total..... 122,531 124,698 53 General merchandise group stores.. 25,028 24,132 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 19,496 18,640 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 19,849 18,995 533 Variety stores.................. 913 767 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 4,619 4,725 54 Food stores....................... 34,138 36,424 541 Grocery stores.................. 32,331 34,640 554 Gasoline service stations......... 11,833 12,526 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 8,449 8,034 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 701 780 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ 2,331 2,220 565 Family clothing stores.......... 3,157 2,974 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,450 1,335 58 Eating and drinking places........ 21,169 21,225 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,081 9,174 592 Liquor stores..................... 1,848 1,897 5961 Total mail order................... 5,779 5,882 53,56,57, GAF................................ 52,149 51,097 594 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.TABLE 1C. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--February 2000
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2 month total Change SIC Kind of business 2000 from code 1999 Retail trade, total........... 471,643 11.8 Total (excl. auto dealers). 347,958 10.3 Durable goods, total........ 198,816 13.8 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 23,852 5.8 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) (*) 525 Hardware stores................. (*) (*) 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 123,685 16.3 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 117,745 16.7 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (*) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) (*) 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 26,802 12.0 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) (*) 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) (*) 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (*) Nondurable goods, total..... 272,827 10.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. 53,185 8.2 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 41,037 7.6 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) (*) 533 Variety stores.................. (*) (*) 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) (*) 54 Food stores....................... 74,128 5.1 541 Grocery stores.................. 70,199 4.8 554 Gasoline service stations......... 30,679 25.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 17,067 3.5 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) (*) 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ (*) (*) 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (*) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) (*) 58 Eating and drinking places........ 46,572 9.9 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 19,871 8.9 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) (*) 5961 Total mail order................... (*) (*) 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) (*) 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 2000
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb Jan 2000 2000 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan Feb Dec Jan CODE 2000 1999 1999 1999 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +1.1 +9.4 +0.4 +9.9 Total (excl. auto dealers). +1.0 +8.1 -0.5 +8.5 Durable goods, total........ +0.7 +10.2 +2.0 +12.0 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. -0.8 +0.4 -1.2 +5.4 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +1.4 +13.4 +3.0 +14.2 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +1.4 +13.7 +3.2 +14.7 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +0.7 +8.8 +1.9 +10.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +1.4 +8.8 -0.8 +8.4 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.6 +6.8 +0.9 +6.4 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.3 +5.9 +1.1 +6.2 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +0.8 +6.0 54 Food stores....................... +1.8 +4.3 -4.7 +3.6 541 Grocery stores.................. +1.8 +4.1 -5.0 +3.3 554 Gasoline service stations......... +4.3 +26.6 -0.6 +22.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +1.1 +2.3 +0.8 +2.1 58 Eating and drinking places........ 0.0 +7.7 +1.3 +9.2 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +0.1 +6.1 -1.4 +7.8 Not Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Feb Jan 2000 2000 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jan Feb Dec Jan CODE 2000 1999 1999 1999 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +5.3 +13.9 -26.5 +9.7 Total (excl. auto group).. +2.5 +12.1 -32.2 +8.4 Durable goods, total........ +9.9 +15.7 -21.2 +11.8 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +7.1 +5.7 -19.8 +5.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +13.8 +18.8 -2.5 +13.6 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +14.3 +19.2 -2.1 +14.0 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. -0.7 +13.4 -33.0 +10.6 Nondurable goods, total..... +2.1 +12.5 -29.9 +8.3 53 General merchandise group stores.. +7.1 +9.9 -53.0 +6.4 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +6.8 +8.7 -54.3 +6.5 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -54.4 +6.4 54 Food stores....................... -2.2 +7.4 -16.0 +2.9 541 Grocery stores.................. -2.7 +7.1 -14.9 +2.7 554 Gasoline service stations......... +2.3 +31.1 -8.8 +21.1 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +8.9 +5.3 -54.9 +1.7 58 Eating and drinking places........ +2.9 +11.6 -7.7 +8.1 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.0 +10.0 -21.9 +7.8 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE:Advance Monthly Retail Sales--February 2000 (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.
Estimates of sampling variability are given in Table 3. They are based on two components. The first component is a measure of the average difference between the Advance and the Preliminary estimates. The second reflects the variability of the Preliminary estimate. Additionally, both the Advance and the full survey are subject to nonsampling errors. Such errors can occur because of nonresponse, insufficient coverage of the universe of retail businesses, and response errors, among others. Precautionary steps are taken to minimize these errors, but their magnitude is not directly measured.
Preliminary estimates for the current month and final estimates for the previous month based on the full sample are published next month in the Monthly Retail Trade Report. This report will provide sales estimates in greater detail and additional measures of sampling variability. It will also present a description of revisions and the techniques used in developing the estimates, and an explanation of confidence intervals and sampling variability (Appendix B, Reliability of Data).
(2) ---- These columns measure the difference between the Advance/Preliminary ratio and the Preliminary/Final ratio estimates -- i.e., the difference between estimates of trend for the same pair of data months. The revisions for Retail trade total are based on the latest 12 months of data.
4th Quarter 1999 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
