ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL TRADE AND FOOD SERVICES
AUGUST 2003
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for August, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $319.2 billion, an increase of 0.6 percent (±0.9%) from the previous month and up 5.4 percent (±1.0%) from August 2002. Total sales for the June through August 2003 period were up 5.3 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The June to July 2003 percent change was revised from +1.4 percent (±0.9%) to +1.3 percent (±0.3%).
Retail trade sales were up 0.5 percent (±1.0%) from July and were 5.1 percent (±1.1%) above last year. Electronics and appliance stores were up 10.0 percent (±1.8 %) from August 2002 and sales of food services and drinking places were up 9.2 percent (±2.6%) 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)
The Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for September is scheduled to be released October 15, 2003 at 8:30 a.m.
Address inquiries concerning this report to Scott Scheleur,
Service Sector Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, D.C. 20233.
Telephone: (301) 763-2713.
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--August 2003
Data adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (In millions of dollars)
2003 2003 2003 2002 2002
NAICS Kind of Business Aug Jul Jun
Code adv. prel. final Aug(r) Jul(r)
Retail & food services, total.................... 319,192 317,232 313,142 302,706 300,842
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 241,449 239,885 237,592 227,851 227,433
Retail ....................................... 288,794 287,245 283,318 274,858 272,941
GAFO............................................. (*) 81,621 80,790 77,839 77,521
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 77,743 77,347 75,550 74,855 73,409
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 71,210 70,841 69,071 68,585 67,101
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 8,482 8,425 8,383 7,899 7,747
443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 8,113 8,004 7,875 7,373 7,450
44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) 5,813 5,720 5,311 5,412
44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,191 2,155 2,062 2,038
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 27,055 27,112 26,697 25,123 24,888
4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 23,689 23,331 22,010 21,843
445 Food & beverage stores........................... 42,759 42,607 42,269 40,936 40,970
4451 Grocery stores.................................. 38,509 38,412 38,128 36,919 36,973
4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 2,695 2,656 2,621 2,613
446 Health & personal care stores.................... 16,074 16,024 15,851 15,111 15,030
44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 13,684 13,551 12,839 12,740
447 Gasoline stations................................ 22,073 21,491 21,108 20,341 20,529
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 14,763 14,969 14,793 14,192 14,106
44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) 847 841 820 824
44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 2,950 2,898 2,803 2,801
4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 1,809 1,778 1,791 1,776
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 6,878 6,779 6,822 6,852 6,811
452 General merchandise stores....................... 40,428 39,994 39,466 38,090 38,019
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 18,508 18,441 18,221 18,815 18,847
4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 21,553 21,245 19,275 19,172
45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) 18,241 17,973 16,247 16,178
45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 3,312 3,272 3,028 2,994
453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 8,738 8,720 8,731 8,870 8,716
454 Nonstore retailers............................... 15,688 15,773 15,773 15,216 15,266
4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 10,201 10,195 9,827 9,807
722 Food services & drinking places.................. 30,398 29,987 29,824 27,848 27,901
(*) 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--August 2003
Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (In Millions of dollars and Annual Percent Change)
8 month total
% Chg. 2003 2003 2003 2002 2002
NAICS Kind of Business 2003 from Aug Jul Jun
Code 2002 adv. prel. final Aug Jul
Retail & food services, total.................... 2,458,931 4.7 329,759 325,127 315,502 318,526 306,129
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 1,844,186 4.6 246,677 240,625 235,366 235,568 226,611
Retail ....................................... 2,221,942 4.6 297,233 293,731 285,022 288,562 277,084
GAFO............................................. (*) (*) (*) 76,569 75,753 79,999 72,133
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 614,745 5.3 83,082 84,502 80,136 82,958 79,518
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 562,613 5.5 76,124 77,358 73,353 76,061 72,737
44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 65,097 61,389 66,132 62,833
4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 7,144 6,783 6,897 6,781
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 63,373 3.8 8,736 8,408 8,064 8,270 7,724
4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,464 4,315 4,498 4,264
4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,944 3,749 3,772 3,460
443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 57,485 3.0 8,194 7,502 7,284 7,489 6,963
44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) (*) (*) 5,412 5,211 5,338 5,049
44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,090 2,073 2,151 1,914
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 213,552 4.7 27,623 30,009 30,601 26,412 27,416
4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 26,271 25,501 23,881 24,158
445 Food & beverage stores........................... 334,540 3.2 43,622 44,103 41,664 42,196 42,015
4451 Grocery stores.................................. 302,843 3.1 39,279 39,756 37,556 38,064 37,897
4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,797 2,598 2,726 2,694
446 Health & personal care stores.................... 124,557 5.2 15,785 15,912 15,423 15,111 14,925
44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 13,533 13,117 12,723 12,587
447 Gasoline stations................................ 176,034 10.6 23,684 23,017 21,973 22,111 21,966
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 106,849 2.3 15,228 13,765 13,476 15,002 12,803
44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 754 806 851 725
44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 2,643 2,762 2,806 2,496
44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 5,040 4,738 5,387 4,644
4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 1,802 1,707 2,285 1,751
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 48,853 -1.1 7,256 6,047 6,126 7,243 6,089
452 General merchandise stores....................... 294,107 4.1 40,792 37,746 37,830 38,308 35,499
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 132,107 -4.5 18,447 16,637 16,909 18,759 16,845
4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (*) (*) 16,908 17,194 19,065 17,125
4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 21,109 20,921 19,549 18,654
45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) (*) (*) 17,913 17,757 16,572 15,822
45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 3,196 3,164 2,977 2,832
453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 67,344 -0.6 8,945 8,570 8,457 9,259 8,530
454 Nonstore retailers............................... 120,503 5.9 14,286 14,150 13,988 14,203 13,636
4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 9,548 9,308 9,454 9,052
722 Food services & drinking places.................. 236,989 6.1 32,526 31,396 30,480 29,964 29,045
(*) 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--August 2003
Data adjusted for seasonal variatons, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Percent Change)
Aug Jul
2003 2003
adv. prel.
from-- from--
NAICS Kind of Business Jul Aug Jun Jul
Code 2003 2002 2003 2002
Prel. Final Final Final
Retail & food Services, total.................... +0.6 +5.4 +1.3 +5.4
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +0.7 +6.0 +1.0 +5.5
Retail .................................. +0.5 +5.1 +1.4 +5.2
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... +0.5 +3.9 +2.4 +5.4
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... +0.5 +3.8 +2.6 +5.6
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +0.7 +7.4 +0.5 +8.8
443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +1.4 +10.0 +1.6 +7.4
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -0.2 +7.7 +1.6 +8.9
445 Food & beverage stores........................... +0.4 +4.5 +0.8 +4.0
4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.3 +4.3 +0.7 +3.9
446 Health & personal care stores.................... +0.3 +6.4 +1.1 +6.6
447 Gasoline stations................................ +2.7 +8.5 +1.8 +4.7
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... -1.4 +4.0 +1.2 +6.1
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +1.5 +0.4 -0.6 -0.5
452 General merchandise stores....................... +1.1 +6.1 +1.3 +5.2
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +0.4 -1.6 +1.2 -2.2
453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +0.2 -1.5 -0.1 0.0
454 Nonstore retailers............................... -0.5 +3.1 0.0 +3.3
722 Food services & drinking places.................. +1.4 +9.2 +0.5 +7.5
Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes.
(Percent Change)
Aug Jul
2003 2003
adv. prel.
from-- from--
NAICS Kind of Business Jul Aug Jun Jul
Code 2003 2002 2003 2002
Prel. Final Final Final
Retail & food Services, total.................... +1.4 +3.5 +3.1 +6.2
Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +2.5 +4.7 +2.2 +6.2
Retail .................................. +1.2 +3.0 +3.1 +6.0
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -1.7 +0.1 +5.4 +6.3
4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................ -1.6 +0.1 +5.5 +6.4
442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. +3.9 +5.6 +4.3 +8.9
443 Electronics & appliance stores................... +9.2 +9.4 +3.0 +7.7
444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers -8.0 +4.6 -1.9 +9.5
445 Food & beverage stores........................... -1.1 +3.4 +5.9 +5.0
4451 Grocery stores.................................. -1.2 +3.2 +5.9 +4.9
446 Health & personal care stores.................... -0.8 +4.5 +3.2 +6.6
447 Gasoline stations................................ +2.9 +7.1 +4.8 +4.8
448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +10.6 +1.5 +2.1 +7.5
451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ +20.0 +0.2 -1.3 -0.7
452 General merchandise stores....................... +8.1 +6.5 -0.2 +6.3
4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... +10.9 -1.7 -1.6 -1.2
453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... +4.4 -3.4 +1.3 +0.5
454 Nonstore retailers............................... +1.0 +0.6 +1.2 +3.8
722 Food services & drinking places.................. +3.6 +8.6 +3.0 +8.1
(NA) Not Available.
SOURCE: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--AUGUST 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 and Reliability of Estimates
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/svsd/www/advtable.html.
(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.
2nd Quarter 2003 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
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