CB-04-70FOR WIRE TRANSMISSION 8:30 A.M. ET, Thursday, May 13, 2004
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $331.8 billion, a decrease of 0.5 percent (±1.0%) from the previous month, but up 8.0 percent (±1.0%) from April 2003. Total sales for the February through April 2004 period were up 8.3 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The February to March 2004 percent change was revised from +1.8 percent (±1.0%) to 2.0 percent (±0.3%).
Retail trade sales were down 0.5 percent (±1.0%) from March 2004, but were 7.6 percent (±1.2%) above last year. Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were up 20.4 percent (±2.3%) from April 2003 and sales of electronics and appliance stores were up 12.4 percent (±3.0%) from last year.
The advance estimates are based on a subsample of the Bureau's full retail and food services sample. A stratified random sampling method is used to select approximately 5,000 retail and food services firms whose sales are then weighted and benchmarked to represent the complete universe of over three million retail and food services firms. Responding firms account for approximately 65% of the MARTS dollar volume estimate. For an explanation of the measures of sampling variability included in this report, please see the Reliability of Estimates section at the end of this page.
Percent Change in Retail and Food Services 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 SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--April 2004
Data adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (In Millions of dollars) 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 NAICS Kind of Business Apr Mar Feb Code adv. prel. final Apr(r) Mar(r) Retail & food services, total.................... 331,842 333,399 326,996 307,389 307,262 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 255,041 255,216 250,617 233,224 234,719 Retail ....................................... 299,693 301,215 295,019 278,397 278,335 GAFO............................................. (*) 84,691 84,299 78,235 78,309 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 76,801 78,183 76,379 74,165 72,543 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 69,761 71,032 69,323 67,506 65,870 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 8,742 8,685 8,566 7,961 7,891 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 8,483 8,414 8,332 7,544 7,470 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) 6,043 5,992 5,373 5,322 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,371 2,340 2,171 2,148 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 31,155 31,367 28,266 25,879 25,983 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 27,848 24,881 22,807 22,876 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 43,601 43,387 43,068 41,837 41,802 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 39,074 38,919 38,644 37,709 37,731 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 2,750 2,747 2,665 2,615 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 16,808 16,830 16,523 15,737 15,609 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 14,328 14,039 13,362 13,369 447 Gasoline stations................................ 24,385 24,331 24,053 21,986 23,204 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 15,623 15,943 15,816 14,439 14,508 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) 944 929 853 834 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 2,995 2,976 2,719 2,733 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 1,983 1,979 1,827 1,875 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 6,848 6,775 6,840 6,543 6,460 452 General merchandise stores....................... 41,241 41,553 41,380 38,460 38,731 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 17,669 17,974 18,162 17,693 17,750 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 23,579 23,218 20,767 20,981 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) 19,977 19,709 17,532 17,764 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 3,602 3,509 3,235 3,217 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 9,084 8,998 8,892 8,599 8,560 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 16,922 16,749 16,904 15,247 15,574 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 10,863 10,731 9,867 9,805 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 32,149 32,184 31,977 28,992 28,927 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these business classifications. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.TABLE 1B. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--April 2004
Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (In Millions of dollars and Annual Percent Change) 4 month total % Chg. 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 NAICS Kind of Business 2004 from Apr Mar Feb Code 2003 adv. prel. final Apr Mar Retail & food services, total.................... 1,260,567 9.2 333,473 335,854 296,443 305,435 303,875 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 958,710 9.9 253,392 250,708 225,878 228,849 228,072 Retail ....................................... 1,135,992 8.8 301,163 303,316 266,449 276,733 274,312 GAFO............................................. (*) (*) (*) 79,157 73,823 72,364 73,170 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 301,857 7.0 80,081 85,146 70,565 76,586 75,803 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 274,578 7.0 72,830 77,709 64,193 69,734 69,163 44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 64,507 53,670 57,671 57,802 4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 7,437 6,372 6,852 6,640 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 32,456 11.3 8,235 8,650 7,778 7,467 7,702 4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,705 4,411 4,007 4,295 4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,945 3,367 3,460 3,407 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 30,602 12.8 7,244 7,921 7,583 6,448 6,993 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) (*) (*) 5,493 5,423 4,470 4,811 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,428 2,160 1,978 2,182 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 110,585 18.3 34,916 30,853 22,351 29,129 24,272 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 27,235 20,452 24,039 21,320 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 168,690 5.0 43,223 42,625 39,940 40,915 41,130 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 152,512 4.3 38,800 38,530 36,132 36,993 37,391 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,516 2,324 2,460 2,395 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 66,658 8.1 16,808 17,436 15,879 15,674 15,781 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 14,729 13,520 13,349 13,409 447 Gasoline stations................................ 93,828 8.3 25,190 24,720 21,816 22,294 23,297 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 54,863 10.8 15,052 14,694 13,344 13,650 13,399 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 846 741 794 756 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,016 2,473 2,836 2,733 44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 5,220 4,274 4,714 4,695 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 1,949 1,708 1,911 1,851 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 24,029 5.4 5,958 6,016 5,554 5,679 5,711 452 General merchandise stores....................... 149,299 9.1 39,446 38,773 36,355 36,201 36,432 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 62,050 1.5 16,592 16,373 15,104 16,380 16,390 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (*) (*) 16,569 15,290 16,601 16,624 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 22,400 21,251 19,821 20,042 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) (*) (*) 19,018 18,191 16,673 17,053 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 3,382 3,060 3,148 2,989 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 34,108 6.0 8,678 8,726 8,279 8,148 7,995 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 69,017 11.1 16,332 17,756 17,005 14,542 15,797 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 11,059 9,862 9,423 9,462 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 124,575 12.7 32,310 32,538 29,994 28,702 29,563 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these business classifications. (r) Revised.TABLE 2. PERCENT CHANGE IN ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--April 2004
Data adjusted for seasonal variatons, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Percent Change) Apr Mar 2004 2004 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Mar Apr Feb Mar Code 2004 2003 2004 2003 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... -0.5 +8.0 +2.0 +8.5 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... -0.1 +9.4 +1.8 +8.7 Retail .................................. -0.5 +7.6 +2.1 +8.2 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -1.8 +3.6 +2.4 +7.8 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... -1.8 +3.3 +2.5 +7.8 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +0.7 +9.8 +1.4 +10.1 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +0.8 +12.4 +1.0 +12.6 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -0.7 +20.4 +11.0 +20.7 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +0.5 +4.2 +0.7 +3.8 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.4 +3.6 +0.7 +3.1 446 Health & personal care stores.................... -0.1 +6.8 +1.9 +7.8 447 Gasoline stations................................ +0.2 +10.9 +1.2 +4.9 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... -2.0 +8.2 +0.8 +9.9 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +1.1 +4.7 -1.0 +4.9 452 General merchandise stores....................... -0.8 +7.2 +0.4 +7.3 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... -1.7 -0.1 -1.0 +1.3 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +1.0 +5.6 +1.2 +5.1 454 Nonstore retailers............................... +1.0 +11.0 -0.9 +7.5 722 Food services & drinking places.................. -0.1 +10.9 +0.6 +11.3 Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (Percent Change) Apr Mar 2004 2004 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Mar Apr Feb Mar Code 2004 2003 2004 2003 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... -0.7 +9.2 +13.3 +10.5 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +1.1 +10.7 +11.0 +9.9 Retail .................................. -0.7 +8.8 +13.8 +10.6 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -5.9 +4.6 +20.7 +12.3 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................ -6.3 +4.4 +21.1 +12.4 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. -4.8 +10.3 +11.2 +12.3 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... -8.5 +12.3 +4.5 +13.3 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers +13.2 +19.9 +38.0 +27.1 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +1.4 +5.6 +6.7 +3.6 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.7 +4.9 +6.6 +3.0 446 Health & personal care stores.................... -3.6 +7.2 +9.8 +10.5 447 Gasoline stations................................ +1.9 +13.0 +13.3 +6.1 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +2.4 +10.3 +10.1 +9.7 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ -1.0 +4.9 +8.3 +5.3 452 General merchandise stores....................... +1.7 +9.0 +6.7 +6.4 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +1.3 +1.3 +8.4 -0.1 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... -0.6 +6.5 +5.4 +9.1 454 Nonstore retailers............................... -8.0 +12.3 +4.4 +12.4 722 Food services & drinking places.................. -0.7 +12.6 +8.5 +10.1 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--APRIL 2004 (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) 763-2713.
Source of Data: The Census Bureau conducts the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey each month to provide an early indication of sales of retail and food service companies. The Advance Monthly Retail Survey is a voluntary survey of a sub-sample of about 5,000 firms selected from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. Firms responding to this survey account for approximately 65% of the dollar volume estimate. Reliability of Estimates: The reliability of the estimates is a function of sampling and nonsampling errors. The margin of sampling error, as included on page 1, gives a range about the estimate which is a 90% confidence interval. If, for example, the trend estimate is +1.2% and the standard error is 0.9%, then the margin of sampling error is ±1.65 x 0.9% or ±1.5%, and the 90% confidence interval is -0.3% to +2.7%. If the interval contains 0, it is uncertain whether there was an increase or decrease. For monthly level, the coefficient of variation (CV) is given. The resulting confidence interval is the estimated value ± 1.65 x CV x (the estimated value). Estimates of sampling variability are given in Table 3. Nonsampling error, on the other hand, can occur because of nonresponse, insufficient coverage of the universe of retail businesses, and response errors. Although not directly measured, precautionary steps are taken to minimize nonsampling error. Additional survey information is available at www.census.gov/retail.
1st Quarter 2004 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
