CB-03-95FOR WIRE TRANSMISSION 8:30 A.M. ET, Thursday, June 12, 2003
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 $308.8 billion, an increase of 0.1 percent (±0.9%) from the previous month and up 5.1 percent (±1.0%) from May 2002. Total sales for the March through May 2003 period were up 4.2 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The March to April 2003 percent change was revised from –0.1 percent (±0.9%) to –0.3 percent (±0.3%).
Retail trade sales were down 0.1 percent (±0.9%) from April, but were 4.9 percent (±1.1%) above last year. Motor vehicle and parts dealers were up 10.4 percent (±3.1%) from May 2002 and sales of food services and drinking places were up 6.7 percent (±0.9%) 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--May 2003
Data adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Millions of dollars) 2003 2003 2003 2002 2002 NAICS Kind of Business May Apr Mar Code adv. prel. final May(r) Apr(r) Retail & food services, total.................... 308,779 308,624 309,567 293,814 297,827 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 234,287 233,977 236,176 226,352 227,997 Retail ....................................... 279,270 279,529 280,369 266,146 270,022 GAFO............................................. (*) 78,865 79,156 77,402 78,172 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 74,492 74,647 73,391 67,462 69,830 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 68,071 68,236 66,924 61,254 63,589 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 8,195 8,103 8,059 7,919 7,883 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 7,811 7,591 7,530 7,494 7,429 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) 5,499 5,461 5,429 5,433 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,092 2,069 2,065 1,996 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 25,760 25,756 25,926 25,072 25,452 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 22,533 22,631 22,047 22,405 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 41,800 41,994 42,018 40,843 40,713 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 37,762 37,879 37,933 36,870 36,760 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 2,679 2,642 2,604 2,612 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 15,664 15,603 15,577 14,911 15,092 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 13,334 13,344 12,677 12,815 447 Gasoline stations................................ 20,926 21,860 23,115 19,981 20,355 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 14,464 14,325 14,583 14,161 14,501 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) 806 814 826 843 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 2,810 2,869 2,827 2,914 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 1,751 1,825 1,806 1,869 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 6,715 6,726 6,646 6,800 6,739 452 General merchandise stores....................... 39,026 38,758 39,017 37,676 38,311 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 17,993 17,869 18,093 18,803 19,446 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 20,889 20,924 18,873 18,865 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) 17,662 17,656 15,915 15,894 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 3,227 3,268 2,958 2,971 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 8,804 8,645 8,600 8,672 8,725 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 15,613 15,521 15,907 15,155 14,992 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 10,037 10,002 9,735 9,682 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 29,509 29,095 29,198 27,668 27,805 (*) 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 2003
Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (In Millions of dollars and Annual Percent Change) 5 month total % Chg. 2003 2003 2003 2002 2002 NAICS Kind of Business 2003 from May Apr Mar Code 2002 adv. prel. final May Apr Retail & food services, total.................... 1,488,557 4.5 326,596 307,623 305,760 310,806 294,252 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 1,121,669 4.2 244,493 230,227 229,142 236,081 220,998 Retail ....................................... 1,346,085 4.5 295,110 278,790 276,095 281,699 266,586 GAFO............................................. (*) (*) (*) 73,226 74,088 76,542 70,741 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 366,888 5.5 82,103 77,396 76,618 74,725 73,254 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 335,664 5.8 75,355 70,761 70,203 68,114 66,832 44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 58,822 58,909 57,561 56,767 4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 6,635 6,415 6,611 6,422 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 38,137 1.6 8,351 7,633 7,882 8,030 7,418 4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,152 4,449 4,502 4,195 4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,481 3,433 3,528 3,223 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 34,604 0.8 7,300 6,501 7,056 6,953 6,408 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) (*) (*) 4,570 4,931 4,995 4,558 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 1,931 2,125 1,958 1,850 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 125,173 2.5 31,133 29,431 24,400 30,609 29,040 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 23,975 21,273 25,222 24,018 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 205,093 3.0 43,736 41,098 41,309 42,554 38,593 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 186,325 3.0 39,537 37,159 37,554 38,419 34,959 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,489 2,420 2,682 2,398 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 77,520 4.8 16,165 15,603 15,686 15,448 14,881 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 13,334 13,371 13,108 12,559 447 Gasoline stations................................ 107,652 14.3 22,474 21,969 22,884 21,440 20,375 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 64,241 1.3 14,599 13,678 13,440 14,156 13,201 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 773 735 813 773 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 2,970 2,872 3,028 2,940 44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 4,668 4,649 4,609 4,376 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 1,851 1,799 1,903 1,828 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 29,518 -1.4 6,117 5,838 5,888 6,168 5,829 452 General merchandise stores....................... 177,710 3.6 39,394 36,589 36,826 38,080 34,934 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 80,112 -5.5 17,874 16,669 16,682 18,764 17,530 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (*) (*) 16,959 16,988 19,373 17,841 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 19,920 20,144 19,316 17,404 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) (*) (*) 16,761 17,144 16,281 14,638 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 3,159 3,000 3,035 2,766 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 41,392 -0.3 9,216 8,170 7,991 9,107 8,238 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 78,157 7.1 14,522 14,884 16,115 14,429 14,415 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 9,595 9,612 9,297 9,266 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 142,472 5.1 31,486 28,833 29,665 29,107 27,666 (*) 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 2003
Data adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Percent Change) May Apr 2003 2003 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Apr May Mar Apr Code 2003 2002 2003 2002 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... +0.1 +5.1 -0.3 +3.6 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +0.1 +3.5 -0.9 +2.6 Retail .................................. -0.1 +4.9 -0.3 +3.5 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -0.2 +10.4 +1.7 +6.9 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... -0.2 +11.1 +2.0 +7.3 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +1.1 +3.5 +0.5 +2.8 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +2.9 +4.2 +0.8 +2.2 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 0.0 +2.7 -0.7 +1.2 445 Food & beverage stores........................... -0.5 +2.3 -0.1 +3.1 4451 Grocery stores.................................. -0.3 +2.4 -0.1 +3.0 446 Health & personal care stores.................... +0.4 +5.0 +0.2 +3.4 447 Gasoline stations................................ -4.3 +4.7 -5.4 +7.4 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +1.0 +2.1 -1.8 -1.2 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... -0.2 -1.3 +1.2 -0.2 452 General merchandise stores....................... +0.7 +3.6 -0.7 +1.2 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +0.7 -4.3 -1.2 -8.1 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +1.8 +1.5 +0.5 -0.9 454 Nonstore retailers............................... +0.6 +3.0 -2.4 +3.5 722 Food services & drinking places.................. +1.4 +6.7 -0.4 +4.6 Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (Percent Change) May Apr 2003 2003 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Apr May Mar Apr Code 2003 2002 2003 2002 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... +6.2 +5.1 +0.6 +4.5 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts )........... +6.2 +3.6 +0.5 +4.2 Retail .................................. +5.9 +4.8 +1.0 +4.6 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... +6.1 +9.9 +1.0 +5.7 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... +6.5 +10.6 +0.8 +5.9 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +9.4 +4.0 -3.2 +2.9 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +12.3 +5.0 -7.9 +1.5 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers +5.8 +1.7 +20.6 +1.3 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +6.4 +2.8 -0.5 +6.5 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +6.4 +2.9 -1.1 +6.3 446 Health & personal care stores.................... +3.6 +4.6 -0.5 +4.9 447 Gasoline stations................................ +2.3 +4.8 -4.0 +7.8 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +6.7 +3.1 +1.8 +3.6 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... +4.8 -0.8 -0.8 +0.2 452 General merchandise stores....................... +7.7 +3.5 -0.6 +4.7 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +7.2 -4.7 -0.1 -4.9 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +12.8 +1.2 +2.2 -0.8 454 Nonstore retailers............................... -2.4 +0.6 -7.6 +3.3 722 Food services & drinking places.................. +9.2 +8.2 -2.8 +4.2 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--MAY 2003 (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 2003 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
