CB-03-159FOR WIRE TRANSMISSION 8:30 A.M. ET, Wednesday, October 15, 2003
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for September, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $320.6 billion, a decrease of 0.2 percent (±1.0%) from the previous month, but up 7.5 percent (±1.0%) from September 2002. Total sales for the July through September 2003 period were up 6.4 percent (±0.5%) from the same period a year ago. The July to August 2003 percent change was revised from +0.6 percent (±0.9%) to +1.2 percent (±0.3%).
Retail trade sales were down 0.1 percent (±1.0%) from August, but were 7.4 percent (±1.1%) above last year. Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were up 11.4 percent (±2.3%) from September 2002 and sales of nonstore retailers were up 9.6 percent (±4.3%) 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--September 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 Sep Aug Jul Code adv. prel. final Sep(r) Aug(r) Retail & food services, total.................... 320,584 321,200 317,512 298,313 302,449 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 243,923 243,302 240,335 227,436 227,829 Retail ....................................... 290,477 290,658 287,565 270,435 274,576 GAFO............................................. (*) 82,555 81,709 77,631 77,878 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 76,661 77,898 77,177 70,877 74,620 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 69,997 71,358 70,652 64,625 68,339 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 8,454 8,472 8,417 7,936 7,891 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 8,060 8,085 7,977 7,469 7,373 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) 5,871 5,780 5,440 5,301 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) 2,214 2,197 2,029 2,072 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 27,919 27,409 27,271 25,052 25,136 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) 23,926 23,793 22,123 22,030 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 42,961 42,852 42,650 40,906 40,913 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 38,616 38,541 38,428 36,912 36,919 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) 2,752 2,708 2,609 2,606 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 16,241 16,171 16,079 15,242 15,096 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) 13,763 13,693 13,036 12,813 447 Gasoline stations................................ 22,308 22,234 21,487 20,413 20,323 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 15,145 14,934 14,984 13,932 14,200 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) 867 845 810 812 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) 2,890 2,939 2,793 2,814 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) 1,851 1,821 1,751 1,770 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 6,914 7,051 6,814 6,879 6,807 452 General merchandise stores....................... 40,691 40,557 40,088 37,978 38,179 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 18,581 18,581 18,477 18,630 18,868 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) 21,976 21,611 19,348 19,311 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) 18,652 18,297 16,311 16,279 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) 3,324 3,314 3,037 3,032 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 8,764 8,835 8,706 8,826 8,843 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 16,359 16,160 15,915 14,925 15,195 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) 10,324 10,294 9,637 9,827 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 30,107 30,542 29,947 27,878 27,873 (*) 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--September 2003
Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (In Millions of dollars and Annual Percent Change) 9 month total % Chg. 2003 2003 2003 2002 2002 NAICS Kind of Business 2003 from Sep Aug Jul Code 2002 adv. prel. final Sep Aug Retail & food services, total.................... 2,771,258 5.3 309,877 332,251 325,085 283,660 318,526 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts)............ 2,079,572 5.1 233,366 248,681 240,641 215,364 235,568 Retail ....................................... 2,504,682 5.2 280,432 299,571 293,701 256,479 288,562 GAFO............................................. (*) (*) (*) 84,386 76,573 70,194 79,999 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... 691,686 6.0 76,511 83,570 84,444 68,296 82,958 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................. 632,849 6.3 69,787 76,638 77,293 62,169 76,061 44111 New car dealers................................ (*) (*) (*) 65,071 65,020 53,763 66,132 4413 Auto parts, acc. & tire stores.................. (*) (*) (*) 6,932 7,151 6,127 6,897 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. 71,573 4.3 8,192 8,743 8,409 7,547 8,270 4421 Furniture stores................................ (*) (*) (*) 4,748 4,473 4,174 4,498 4422 Home furnishings stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 3,995 3,936 3,373 3,772 443 Electronics & appliance stores.................... 64,912 3.7 7,457 8,163 7,503 6,821 7,489 44311,13 Appl., T.V. & camera........................... (*) (*) (*) 5,900 5,416 4,831 5,338 44312 Computer & software stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,263 2,087 1,990 2,151 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers 242,405 6.0 28,550 27,933 30,002 24,760 26,412 4441 Building mat. & supplies dealers................ (*) (*) (*) 25,122 26,267 22,499 23,881 445 Food & beverage stores........................... 376,026 3.5 41,331 43,771 44,109 39,234 42,196 4451 Grocery stores.................................. 340,195 3.3 37,264 39,350 39,773 35,546 38,064 4453 Beer, wine & liquor stores...................... (*) (*) (*) 2,848 2,789 2,419 2,726 446 Health & personal care stores.................... 140,411 5.7 15,689 15,912 15,950 14,434 15,111 44611 Pharmacies & drug stores........................ (*) (*) (*) 13,460 13,529 12,293 12,723 447 Gasoline stations................................ 198,625 10.6 22,420 23,902 22,970 20,413 22,111 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... 120,708 3.3 13,664 15,428 13,760 12,418 15,002 44811 Men's clothing stores........................... (*) (*) (*) 913 741 741 851 44812 Women's clothing stores......................... (*) (*) (*) 2,806 2,645 2,620 2,806 44814 Family clothing stores.......................... (*) (*) (*) 5,466 5,044 4,328 5,387 4482 Shoe stores..................................... (*) (*) (*) 2,356 1,806 1,586 2,285 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores....... 55,597 -0.3 6,465 7,531 6,051 6,322 7,243 452 General merchandise stores....................... 329,935 4.3 35,817 40,800 37,749 33,847 38,308 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 148,032 -4.2 15,912 18,459 16,638 16,231 18,759 4521 Department stores (incl. L.D.).................. (*) (*) (*) 18,749 16,909 16,492 19,065 4529 Other general merchandise stores................ (*) (*) (*) 22,341 21,111 17,616 19,549 45291 Warehouse clubs & superstores.................. (*) (*) (*) 19,100 17,913 14,892 16,572 45299 All other gen. merchandise stores.............. (*) (*) (*) 3,241 3,198 2,724 2,977 453 Miscellaneous store retailers.................... 76,000 -0.1 8,567 9,060 8,544 8,373 9,259 454 Nonstore retailers............................... 136,804 7.0 15,769 14,758 14,210 14,014 14,203 4541 Electronic shopping & mail-order houses......... (*) (*) (*) 9,736 9,573 9,242 9,454 722 Food services & drinking places.................. 266,576 6.4 29,445 32,680 31,384 27,181 29,964 (*) 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--September 2003
Data adjusted for seasonal variatons, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. (Percent Change) Sep Aug 2003 2003 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Aug Sep Jul Aug Code 2003 2002 2003 2002 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... -0.2 +7.5 +1.2 +6.2 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... +0.3 +7.2 +1.2 +6.8 Retail .................................. -0.1 +7.4 +1.1 +5.9 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -1.6 +8.2 +0.9 +4.4 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers............... -1.9 +8.3 +1.0 +4.4 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. -0.2 +6.5 +0.7 +7.4 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... -0.3 +7.9 +1.4 +9.7 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers +1.9 +11.4 +0.5 +9.0 445 Food & beverage stores........................... +0.3 +5.0 +0.5 +4.7 4451 Grocery stores.................................. +0.2 +4.6 +0.3 +4.4 446 Health & personal care stores.................... +0.4 +6.6 +0.6 +7.1 447 Gasoline stations................................ +0.3 +9.3 +3.5 +9.4 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... +1.4 +8.7 -0.3 +5.2 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ -1.9 +0.5 +3.5 +3.6 452 General merchandise stores....................... +0.3 +7.1 +1.2 +6.2 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... 0.0 -0.3 +0.6 -1.5 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... -0.8 -0.7 +1.5 -0.1 454 Nonstore retailers............................... +1.2 +9.6 +1.5 +6.4 722 Food services & drinking places.................. -1.4 +8.0 +2.0 +9.6 Data not adjusted for seasonal variations, holiday, trading-day differences, and price changes. (Percent Change) Sep Aug 2003 2003 adv. prel. from-- from-- NAICS Kind of Business Aug Sep Jul Aug Code 2003 2002 2003 2002 Prel. Final Final Final Retail & food Services, total.................... -6.7 +9.2 +2.2 +4.3 Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts ).......... -6.2 +8.4 +3.3 +5.6 Retail .................................. -6.4 +9.3 +2.0 +3.8 441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers.................... -8.4 +12.0 -1.0 +0.7 4411,4412 Auto & other motor veh. dealers................ -8.9 +12.3 -0.8 +0.8 442 Furniture & home furnishings stores.............. -6.3 +8.5 +4.0 +5.7 443 Electronics & appliance stores................... -8.6 +9.3 +8.8 +9.0 444 Building material & garden eq. & supplies dealers +2.2 +15.3 -6.9 +5.8 445 Food & beverage stores........................... -5.6 +5.3 -0.8 +3.7 4451 Grocery stores.................................. -5.3 +4.8 -1.1 +3.4 446 Health & personal care stores.................... -1.4 +8.7 -0.2 +5.3 447 Gasoline stations................................ -6.2 +9.8 +4.1 +8.1 448 Clothing & clothing accessories stores........... -11.4 +10.0 +12.1 +2.8 451 Sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores........ -14.2 +2.3 +24.5 +4.0 452 General merchandise stores....................... -12.2 +5.8 +8.1 +6.5 4521 Department stores (ex. L.D.).................... -13.8 -2.0 +10.9 -1.6 453 Miscellaneous stores retailers................... -5.4 +2.3 +6.0 -2.1 454 Nonstore retailers............................... +6.9 +12.5 +3.9 +3.9 722 Food services & drinking places.................. -9.9 +8.3 +4.1 +9.1 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE: Advance Monthly Sales for Retail Trade and Food Services--SEPTEMBER 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 and Food Services 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.
2nd Quarter 2002 Retail E-Commerce Sales
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
