We use the X-13ARIMA-SEATS program to derive the factors for adjusting data for seasonal variations and, in the case of sales, for trading-day and holiday differences.

Adjustment of estimates is an approximation based on current and past experiences. Therefore the adjustments could become less precise if current competitive pressures, changes in consumer buying patterns during holiday periods, and other elements introduce significant changes in seasonal, trading-day and holiday patterns.

Each month for sales, concurrent seasonal adjustment uses all available unadjusted estimates (including the latest preliminary and advance estimates) as input to the X-13ARIMA-SEATS program. Factors derived from concurrent seasonal adjustment for sales are applied to the unadjusted advance, (one month after the preliminary) preliminary, and final (one month before the preliminary) estimates and to the previous year estimates that correspond to the advance and preliminary months.

The table Combined Seasonal, Trading-Day, and Holiday Adjustment Factors for Retail and Food Services Sales by Kinds of Business presents the combined seasonal, trading-day, and holiday adjustment factors that are used to adjust sales estimates. For kinds of business whose last observation is an advance estimate, two months of projected factors are shown. For all other kinds of business, three months of projected factors are shown. Projected factors are estimates of the factors that will be used to derive adjusted estimates when unadjusted estimates become available.

More information about the X-13ARIMA-SEATS program is available on the Census web site at https://www.census.gov/data/software/x13as.html .

Related Links:

Monthly Retail Trade Survey
Annual Retail Trade Survey
Advance Monthly Retail Trade & Food Services

Source: Retail Indicators Branch, U.S. Census Bureau
Last Revised:  May 31, 2013