CB-04-95 FOR WIRE TRANSMISSION 8:30 A.M. ET, Monday, June 14, 2004
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 $335.8 billion, an increase of 1.2 percent (±0.8%) from the previous month and up 8.9 percent (±1.0%) from May 2003. Total sales for the March through May 2004 period were up 8.4 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The March to April 2004 percent change was revised from –0.5 percent (±1.0%) to –0.6 percent (±0.2%).
Retail trade sales were up 1.3 percent (±1.0%) from April 2004 and were 9.0 percent (±1.2%) above last year. Gasoline station sales were up 22.5 percent (±2.1%) from May 2003 and sales of building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were up 16.6 percent (±2.1%) 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.
TABLE 1A. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, BY KIND OF BUSINESS--May 2004
Data adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Millions of dollars) 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 NAICS Kind of Business May Apr Mar Code adv. prel. final May(r) Apr(r) Retail & food services, total.................... 335,801 331,941 333,818 308,383 308,132 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 257,004 255,208 255,473 233,993 233,585 Retail ....................................... 303,923 299,979 301,790 278,807 279,140 GAFO............................................. (*) 84,162 84,745 79,128 78,288 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 78,797 76,733 78,345 74,390 74,547 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 71,765 69,703 71,207 67,676 67,901 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 8,636 8,688 8,661 8,115 7,961 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 8,508 8,499 8,415 7,740 7,531 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) 6,083 6,046 5,525 5,379 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,416 2,369 2,215 2,152 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 30,472 30,900 31,022 26,127 25,822 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 27,518 27,617 22,902 22,807 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 43,932 43,535 43,456 41,524 41,948 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 39,371 39,056 38,994 37,384 37,825 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 2,789 2,754 2,631 2,654 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 17,012 16,861 16,878 15,711 15,737 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 14,331 14,347 13,477 13,376 447 Gasoline stations................................ 26,015 25,011 24,942 21,241 22,272 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 15,711 15,570 15,935 14,719 14,443 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) 944 945 866 844 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 2,923 3,021 2,746 2,719 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 1,950 1,979 1,851 1,813 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 6,734 6,726 6,757 6,507 6,581 452 General merchandise stores....................... 41,924 41,366 41,661 38,678 38,484 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 17,847 17,704 17,994 17,811 17,704 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 23,662 23,667 20,867 20,780 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) 20,201 20,061 17,628 17,551 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 3,461 3,606 3,239 3,229 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 9,244 9,147 9,025 8,759 8,593 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 16,938 16,943 16,693 15,296 15,221 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 10,995 10,937 9,882 9,877 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 31,878 31,962 32,028 29,576 28,992 (*) 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 2004
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. 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 NAICS Kind of Business 2004 from May Apr Mar Code 2003 adv. prel. final May Apr Retail & food services, total.................... 1,603,421 8.4 344,399 332,199 335,583 324,452 305,435 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 1,219,269 9.3 261,175 252,941 250,543 243,188 228,849 Retail ....................................... 1,445,848 8.1 311,087 300,045 303,203 293,013 276,733 GAFO............................................. (*) (*) (*) 78,658 79,224 78,005 72,364 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 384,152 5.7 83,224 79,258 85,040 81,264 76,586 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 349,801 5.7 76,143 72,003 77,616 74,241 69,734 44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 59,094 64,432 61,654 57,671 4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 7,255 7,424 7,023 6,852 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 40,880 9.5 8,472 8,193 8,644 8,188 7,467 4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,399 4,718 4,399 4,007 4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,794 3,926 3,789 3,460 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 38,361 12.0 7,714 7,298 7,912 7,127 6,448 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) (*) (*) 5,073 5,484 5,094 4,470 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,225 2,428 2,033 1,978 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 144,960 16.5 34,512 34,789 30,843 30,960 29,129 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 29,032 27,230 25,352 24,039 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 213,594 4.5 45,220 42,919 42,613 43,692 40,915 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 192,847 3.9 40,591 38,548 38,526 39,365 36,993 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,666 2,509 2,718 2,460 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 83,773 7.7 17,046 16,861 17,452 16,088 15,674 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 14,331 14,749 13,747 13,349 447 Gasoline stations................................ 121,233 10.8 27,212 25,361 24,742 22,749 22,294 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 70,115 9.2 15,205 15,033 14,760 14,701 13,650 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 906 846 855 794 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,125 3,054 2,924 2,836 44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 5,178 5,223 5,046 4,714 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 2,096 1,947 1,938 1,911 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 29,718 3.8 5,838 5,784 6,041 5,830 5,679 452 General merchandise stores....................... 191,306 8.8 42,043 39,410 38,773 39,009 36,201 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 79,491 1.0 17,422 16,611 16,373 17,567 16,380 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (*) (*) 16,810 16,570 17,804 16,601 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 22,799 22,400 21,442 19,821 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) (*) (*) 19,393 19,018 18,122 16,673 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 3,406 3,382 3,320 3,148 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 43,623 5.4 9,421 8,792 8,706 9,202 8,148 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 84,133 10.2 15,180 16,347 17,677 14,203 14,542 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 10,566 11,068 9,309 9,423 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 157,573 11.0 33,312 32,154 32,380 31,439 28,702 (*) 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 2004
Data adjusted for seasonal variatons, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Percent Change) May Apr 2004 2004 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Apr May Mar Apr Code 2004 2003 2004 2003 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... +1.2 +8.9 -0.6 +7.7 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +0.7 +9.8 -0.1 +9.3 Retail .................................. +1.3 +9.0 -0.6 +7.5 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... +2.7 +5.9 -2.1 +2.9 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... +3.0 +6.0 -2.1 +2.7 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. -0.6 +6.4 +0.3 +9.1 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +0.1 +9.9 +1.0 +12.9 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -1.4 +16.6 -0.4 +19.7 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +0.9 +5.8 +0.2 +3.8 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.8 +5.3 +0.2 +3.3 446 Health & personal care stores.................... +0.9 +8.3 -0.1 +7.1 447 Gasoline stations................................ +4.0 +22.5 +0.3 +12.3 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +0.9 +6.7 -2.3 +7.8 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +0.1 +3.5 -0.5 +2.2 452 General merchandise stores....................... +1.3 +8.4 -0.7 +7.5 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +0.8 +0.2 -1.6 0.0 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +1.1 +5.5 +1.4 +6.4 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 0.0 +10.7 +1.5 +11.3 722 Food services & drinking places.................. -0.3 +7.8 -0.2 +10.2 Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (Percent Change) May Apr 2004 2004 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Apr May Mar Apr Code 2004 2003 2004 2003 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... +3.7 +6.1 -1.0 +8.8 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +3.3 +7.4 +1.0 +10.5 Retail .................................. +3.7 +6.2 -1.0 +8.4 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... +5.0 +2.4 -6.8 +3.5 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................ +5.7 +2.6 -7.2 +3.3 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +3.4 +3.5 -5.2 +9.7 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +5.7 +8.2 -7.8 +13.2 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -0.8 +11.5 +12.8 +19.4 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +5.4 +3.5 +0.7 +4.9 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +5.3 +3.1 +0.1 +4.2 446 Health & personal care stores.................... +1.1 +6.0 -3.4 +7.6 447 Gasoline stations................................ +7.3 +19.6 +2.5 +13.8 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +1.1 +3.4 +1.8 +10.1 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +0.9 +0.1 -4.3 +1.8 452 General merchandise stores....................... +6.7 +7.8 +1.6 +8.9 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +4.9 -0.8 +1.5 +1.4 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +7.2 +2.4 +1.0 +7.9 454 Nonstore retailers............................... -7.1 +6.9 -7.5 +12.4 722 Food services & drinking places.................. +3.6 +6.0 -0.7 +12.0 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--MAY 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 levels, 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/svsd/www/advtable.html. Source of Data and Reliability of Estimates
(1) These columns measure the difference between the estimates of trend for the same pair of data months, i.e. the difference between the Advance/Preliminary ratio and the Preliminary/Final ratio estimates. Revisions are based on estimates from the 12 most recent months. (2) Medians are based on estimates from the 12 most recent months.
1st Quarter 2004 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
