Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Hurricane Katrina's Effect on Retail Sales

 

What was the effect of Hurricane Katrina on U.S. total retail sales for August?

We cannot quantify the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the August 2005 retail sales as the Advance Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services Survey (MARTS) measures retail activity on a national level and not at specific geographic areas. However, the 2002 Economic Census does measure sales at the areas affected by the hurricane.

  2002 Sales ($1,000) % of Total U.S.
U.S. Level
$3,056,421,997
100.00%
New Orleans-Metairie- Bogalusa CSA
$13,207,604
0.43%
Baton Rouge-Pierre Part CSA
$6,918,716
0.23%
Mobile-Daphne-Fairhope CSA
$5,894,886
0.19%
Lafayette-Acadiana CSA
$4,978,930
0.16%
Gulfport-Biloxi- Pascougola CSA
$3,602,131
0.12%
Houma-Bayou Cane- Thibodaux MSA
$1,832,589
0.06%
Morgan City
$415,176
0.01%
.
.
.
Total Gulf Coast Metro Areas
$36,850,032
1.21%

CSA = Combined Statistical Area
MSA = Metropolitan Statistical Area

See the published Geographic Area Series of the 2002 Economic Census at http://www.census.gov/econ/census02/guide/geosumm.htm for more information.

The areas affected by the hurricane ordinarily account for a minimal percentage of total U.S. retail sales based on the 2002 Economic Census. Moreover, the effect of the hurricane on the national retail sales estimates in August would be much less since the hurricane only impacted the last few days of August.

How does the survey account for businesses affected by the hurricane?

Large companies with multiple locations are asked to report total U. S. sales for August for all retail locations, including locations in the affected areas. Some companies located in the affected areas may have had difficulty reporting this month. MARTS accounts for missing data through its estimation procedure. This procedure makes use of July estimates from the Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) and data from companies that report both July and August sales.

Did you change your analytical procedures this month?

In addition to the usual analysis done every month, we reviewed independent data sources, discussed the effects of the hurricane with companies on the survey, and asked companies reporting a period not including the days affected by the hurricane to provide the additional information in order to accurately represent the entire month.

Do you have monthly estimates of sales for the affected areas?

No. MARTS is designed to estimate for sales at the United States level only.

Did you alter the seasonal adjustment options for August?

No. The review of the seasonal adjustment output and diagnostics did not indicate that adjustments to the options were necessary for August.

What do you plan to do for September retail sales (and future months)?

We plan to monitor the situation and make adjustments if necessary.

  

Source: U. S. Census Bureau 
            Service Sector Statistics Division

Last Revised: September 14, 2005