CB-02-78FOR WIRE TRANSMISSION 8:30 A.M. ET, Thursday, June 13, 2002
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for May, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $297.0 billion, a decrease of 0.9 percent (±1.0%) from the previous month, but up 2.2 percent (±1.0%) from May 2001. Total sales for the March through May 2002 period were up 3.3 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The March to April 2002 percent change was unrevised from 1.2 percent (±0.2%).
Retail trade sales were down 0.9 percent (±1.0%) from April, but were 1.9 percent (±1.0%) above last year. Electronics and appliance stores were up 10.9 percent (±2.3%) from last year and sales of health and personal care stores were up 9.0 percent (±2.0%) from May 2001. Sales of gasoline stations decreased 10.3 percent (±2.0%) from May a year ago.
The advance estimates are based on a small subsample of the Bureau's full retail and food services 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. 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 variations, 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--May 2002
Data adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Millions of dollars) 2002 2002 2002 2001 2001 NAICS Kind of Business May Apr Mar Code adv. prel. final May(r) Apr(r) Retail & food services, total.................... 297,029 299,674 296,199 290,536 288,366 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 227,114 227,980 225,560 219,629 218,664 Retail ....................................... 269,045 271,605 268,196 263,925 261,920 GAFO............................................. (*) 79,603 79,188 74,729 74,617 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 69,915 71,694 70,639 70,907 69,702 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 63,820 65,545 64,542 64,811 63,594 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 8,009 7,935 7,935 7,582 7,540 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 7,844 7,679 7,714 7,076 7,066 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) 5,547 5,507 5,031 4,998 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,132 2,207 2,045 2,068 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 26,154 26,269 25,755 25,103 25,129 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 22,665 22,256 21,401 21,420 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 40,182 39,993 40,128 39,288 39,057 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 36,130 35,931 36,080 35,391 35,228 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 2,654 2,639 2,526 2,505 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 15,333 15,327 15,004 14,073 13,882 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 12,985 12,621 11,804 11,645 447 Gasoline stations................................ 18,991 19,606 18,775 21,174 20,756 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 14,339 14,747 14,673 14,023 14,169 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) 889 889 893 872 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 2,881 2,875 2,674 2,726 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 1,852 1,829 1,814 1,831 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 7,415 7,338 7,365 6,892 6,898 452 General merchandise stores....................... 37,965 38,295 37,874 35,409 35,311 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 18,895 19,315 19,210 19,093 19,011 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 18,980 18,664 16,316 16,300 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) 15,825 15,541 13,339 13,338 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 3,155 3,123 2,977 2,962 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 9,295 9,339 9,219 9,559 9,226 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 13,603 13,383 13,115 12,839 13,184 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 9,348 9,167 8,936 8,958 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 27,984 28,069 28,003 26,611 26,446 (*) 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--May 2002
Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences. (Millions of dollars) 5 month total % Chg. 2002 2002 2002 2001 2001 NAICS Kind of Business 2002 from May Apr Mar Code 2001 adv. prel. final May Apr Retail & food services, total.................... 1,434,318 3.2 314,345 296,668 295,808 305,942 283,461 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 1,077,558 3.6 237,466 221,513 221,815 227,915 212,950 Retail ....................................... 1,297,483 3.0 284,962 268,711 267,161 278,213 257,279 GAFO............................................. (*) (*) (*) 72,069 76,089 72,838 69,088 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 356,760 2.2 76,879 75,155 73,993 78,027 70,511 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 326,830 2.2 70,394 68,822 67,963 71,486 64,421 44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 57,504 57,367 59,798 53,729 4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 6,333 6,030 6,541 6,090 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 37,588 4.5 8,025 7,451 7,816 7,567 6,967 4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,183 4,509 4,116 3,855 4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,268 3,307 3,451 3,112 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 35,511 8.1 7,234 6,637 7,348 6,506 6,087 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) (*) (*) 4,676 5,055 4,578 4,178 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 1,961 2,293 1,928 1,909 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 127,696 5.1 32,401 30,469 23,887 30,972 27,897 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 24,591 20,832 24,568 22,255 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 195,315 2.9 41,890 37,866 40,692 40,564 37,853 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 176,622 2.7 37,684 34,134 36,766 36,594 34,206 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,431 2,489 2,546 2,295 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 75,581 9.3 15,916 15,158 15,364 14,537 13,743 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 12,738 12,911 12,158 11,505 447 Gasoline stations................................ 90,619 -9.3 20,586 19,606 18,493 22,614 20,548 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 64,305 3.1 14,418 13,374 14,132 13,939 13,477 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 800 833 870 823 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 2,916 3,010 2,853 2,900 44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 4,441 4,746 4,554 4,537 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 1,806 1,928 1,899 1,941 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 32,546 8.3 6,725 6,391 6,761 6,251 5,905 452 General merchandise stores....................... 171,727 8.5 38,110 34,985 36,638 35,124 33,486 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 84,693 0.2 18,697 17,498 18,301 18,640 18,060 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (*) (*) 17,850 18,663 19,041 18,436 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 17,487 18,337 16,484 15,426 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) (*) (*) 14,575 15,339 13,459 12,591 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 2,912 2,998 3,025 2,835 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 44,606 0.7 9,720 8,820 8,759 9,922 8,504 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 65,229 -1.7 13,058 12,799 13,278 12,190 12,301 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 8,899 8,938 8,516 8,295 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 136,835 5.7 29,383 27,957 28,647 27,729 26,182 (*) 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--May 2002
Data adjusted for seasonal variatons, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Percent Change) May Apr 2002 2002 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Apr May Mar Apr Code 2002 2001 2002 2001 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... -0.9 +2.2 +1.2 +3.9 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... -0.4 +3.4 +1.1 +4.3 Retail .................................. -0.9 +1.9 +1.3 +3.7 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -2.5 -1.4 +1.5 +2.9 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... -2.6 -1.5 +1.6 +3.1 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +0.9 +5.6 0.0 +5.2 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +2.1 +10.9 -0.5 +8.7 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -0.4 +4.2 +2.0 +4.5 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +0.5 +2.3 -0.3 +2.4 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.6 +2.1 -0.4 +2.0 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 0.0 +9.0 +2.2 +10.4 447 Gasoline stations................................ -3.1 -10.3 +4.4 -5.5 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... -2.8 +2.3 +0.5 +4.1 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +1.0 +7.6 -0.4 +6.4 452 General merchandise stores....................... -0.9 +7.2 +1.1 +8.5 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... -2.2 -1.0 +0.5 +1.6 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... -0.5 -2.8 +1.3 +1.2 454 Nonstore retailers............................... +1.6 +6.0 +2.0 +1.5 722 Food services & drinking places.................. -0.3 +5.2 +0.2 +6.1 Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences. (Percent Change) May Apr 2002 2002 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Apr May Mar Apr Code 2002 2001 2002 2001 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... +6.0 +2.7 +0.3 +4.7 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +7.2 +4.2 -0.1 +4.0 Retail .................................. +6.0 +2.4 +0.6 +4.4 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... +2.3 -1.5 +1.6 +6.6 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................ +2.3 -1.5 +1.3 +6.8 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +7.7 +6.1 -4.7 +6.9 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +9.0 +11.2 -9.7 +9.0 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers +6.3 +4.6 +27.6 +9.2 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +10.6 +3.3 -6.9 0.0 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +10.4 +3.0 -7.2 -0.2 446 Health & personal care stores.................... +5.0 +9.5 -1.3 +10.3 447 Gasoline stations................................ +5.0 -9.0 +6.0 -4.6 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +7.8 +3.4 -5.4 -0.8 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +5.2 +7.6 -5.5 +8.2 452 General merchandise stores....................... +8.9 +8.5 -4.5 +4.5 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +6.9 +0.3 -4.4 -3.1 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +10.2 -2.0 +0.7 +3.7 454 Nonstore retailers............................... +2.0 +7.1 -3.6 +4.0 722 Food services & drinking places.................. +5.1 +6.0 -2.4 +6.8 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--MAY 2002 (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.
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 each survey. The margin of sampling error, as used 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 × CV × (the estimated value). Estimates of sampling variability are given in Table 3. Estimates from 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. The restatement methodology may have introduced additional nonsampling error. Precautionary steps are taken to minimize nonsampling 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 will be 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, the techniques used in developing the estimates, and an explanation of confidence intervals and sampling variability (Appendix B, Reliability of Estimates).
(2) Medians are based on the estimates from the 12 most recent months.
1st Quarter 2002 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
