CB-00-150FOR WIRE TRANSMISION 8:30 A.M. ET., Thursday, September 14, 2000
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for August, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $271.2 billion, an increase of 0.2 percent (±0.7%) from the previous month and up 7.0 percent (±0.9%) from August 1999. Total sales for the June through August period were up 7.8 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The June to July 2000 percent change was revised from +0.7 percent (±0.7%) to +0.9 percent (±0.2%).
Durable goods were unchanged (±1.4%) from July, but were 4.5 percent above last year. Furniture sales were up 6.6 percent from August a year ago, while automotive sales were up 3.3 percent from last year.
Nondurable goods increased 0.3 percent (±0.6%) from July and were up 8.9 percent from August 1999. Gasoline sales were up 16.6 percent from August a year ago, while drug store sales were up 10.6 percent from last year.
The advance estimates are based on a small subsample of the Bureau's full retail sales sample. Estimates from the advance and the subsequent full survey can differ because of the earlier reporting in the advance and because of sampling variability present in both surveys.
Percent Change in Retail 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 RETAIL SALES--August 2000
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2000 2000 2000 SIC Kind of business Aug Jul Jun code adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 271,205 270,750 268,436 Total (excl. auto dealers). 204,143 203,448 201,892 Durable goods, total........ 111,990 111,945 110,718 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,297 15,288 15,269 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 12,123 12,071 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,308 1,310 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 67,062 67,302 66,544 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 63,518 63,774 63,063 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,528 3,481 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 14,562 14,397 14,348 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 7,069 6,993 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 6,261 6,292 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 159,215 158,805 157,718 53 General merchandise group stores.. 34,217 34,152 33,639 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 26,573 26,444 26,123 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 26,894 26,475 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,389 1,337 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 6,319 6,179 54 Food stores....................... 40,588 40,459 40,407 541 Grocery stores.................. 38,398 38,291 38,277 554 Gasoline service stations......... 18,170 18,412 18,278 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,708 11,669 11,664 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 953 927 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ (*) 3,258 3,235 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,783 1,770 58 Eating and drinking places........ 25,637 25,690 25,443 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 11,179 11,050 10,886 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,540 2,522 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 8,999 9,014 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 69,851 69,051 594 1999 1999 SIC Kind of business code Aug(r) Jul(r) Retail trade, total........... 253,471 250,003 Total (excl. auto dealers). 188,548 186,494 Durable goods, total........ 107,207 105,383 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 14,963 15,032 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 11,614 11,480 525 Hardware stores................. 1,304 1,301 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 64,923 63,509 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 61,581 60,200 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (NA) (NA) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,342 3,309 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,656 13,486 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,551 6,374 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 6,055 6,056 5722 Household appliance stores.... (NA) (NA) Nondurable goods, total..... 146,264 144,620 53 General merchandise group stores.. 31,694 31,450 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 24,776 24,661 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 25,265 25,104 533 Variety stores.................. 1,203 1,165 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,715 5,624 54 Food stores....................... 38,100 37,997 541 Grocery stores.................. 36,183 36,057 554 Gasoline service stations......... 15,578 15,060 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 11,386 11,241 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 927 909 562,3 Women's clothing, accessory stores........................ 3,080 3,047 565 Family clothing stores.......... (NA) (NA) 566 Shoe stores..................... 1,812 1,800 58 Eating and drinking places........ 23,836 23,718 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 10,108 10,061 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,334 2,318 5961 Total mail order................... 7,785 7,486 53,56,57, GAF................................ 65,494 64,914 594 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.TABLE 1B. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--August 2000
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 2000 2000 2000 SIC Kind of business Aug Jul Jun code adv. prel. final Retail trade, total........... 280,305 267,836 276,261 Total (excl. auto dealers). 207,408 199,780 202,834 Durable goods, total........ 118,727 111,621 118,742 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 16,383 16,237 17,710 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) 13,008 13,689 525 Hardware stores................. (*) 1,381 1,484 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 72,897 68,056 73,427 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 68,981 64,348 69,685 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) 54,540 58,742 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) 3,708 3,742 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 14,664 13,641 13,616 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) 6,892 6,811 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) 5,835 5,858 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) 1,007 1,085 Nondurable goods, total..... 161,578 156,215 157,519 53 General merchandise group stores.. 33,484 31,556 32,449 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 25,962 24,196 24,947 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) 24,632 25,413 533 Variety stores.................. (*) 1,275 1,274 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) 6,085 6,228 54 Food stores....................... 41,492 41,605 40,872 541 Grocery stores.................. 39,320 39,478 38,736 554 Gasoline service stations......... 19,533 19,572 19,649 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 12,645 10,826 11,156 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) 860 893 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ (*) 2,965 3,193 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) 4,255 4,357 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) 1,763 1,791 58 Eating and drinking places........ 26,842 26,923 26,435 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 11,000 10,597 10,755 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) 2,611 2,560 5961 Total mail order................... (*) 7,748 8,392 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) 64,375 65,822 594 1999 1999 SIC Kind of business code Aug Jul Retail trade, total........... 256,859 254,576 Total (excl. auto dealers). 188,695 187,572 Durable goods, total........ 110,628 109,354 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 15,749 16,555 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. 12,415 12,800 525 Hardware stores................. 1,313 1,406 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 68,164 67,004 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 64,598 63,391 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... 55,541 53,950 553 Auto and home supply stores..... 3,566 3,613 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 13,501 13,107 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. 6,603 6,374 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ 5,910 5,796 5722 Household appliance stores.... 961 1,131 Nondurable goods, total..... 146,231 145,222 53 General merchandise group stores.. 30,652 29,432 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 23,958 22,811 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) 24,421 23,250 533 Variety stores.................. 1,122 1,115 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... 5,572 5,506 54 Food stores....................... 38,254 39,982 541 Grocery stores.................. 36,364 38,040 554 Gasoline service stations......... 16,622 16,325 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 12,023 10,783 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... 910 830 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ 2,960 2,849 565 Family clothing stores.......... 4,794 4,359 566 Shoe stores..................... 2,169 1,838 58 Eating and drinking places........ 24,861 25,307 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 9,785 9,820 592 Liquor stores..................... 2,280 2,485 5961 Total mail order................... 7,077 6,588 53,56,57, GAF................................ 64,487 61,124 594 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.TABLE 1C. ESTIMATED ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--August 2000
Not adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Millions of dollars) 8 month total Change SIC Kind of business 2000 from code 1999 Retail trade, total........... 2,111,752 9.5 Total (excl. auto dealers). 1,558,000 9.6 Durable goods, total........ 896,833 8.9 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. 124,969 4.1 521,3 Building mat. and supply stores. (*) (*) 525 Hardware stores................. (*) (*) 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ 553,752 9.4 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. 525,577 9.6 551 Motor vehicle (franchised).... (*) (*) 553 Auto and home supply stores..... (*) (*) 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. 109,963 9.7 571 Furniture and home furnishings.. (*) (*) 5722,31,4 Household appliance, radio, TV, and computer stores............ (*) (*) 5722 Household appliance stores.... (*) (*) Nondurable goods, total..... 1214919 10.1 53 General merchandise group stores.. 246,199 8.1 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased depts.) 190,448 7.2 531 Dept. stores (in. leased depts.) (*) (*) 533 Variety stores.................. (*) (*) 539 Misc. general mdse. stores...... (*) (*) 54 Food stores....................... 318,237 6.3 541 Grocery stores.................. 301,734 6.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... 144,188 24.0 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... 86,357 4.6 561 Men's and boys' clothing and furnishings stores......... (*) (*) 562,3 Women's clothing, accessary stores........................ (*) (*) 565 Family clothing stores.......... (*) (*) 566 Shoe stores..................... (*) (*) 58 Eating and drinking places........ 204,565 8.4 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... 85,108 9.1 592 Liquor stores..................... (*) (*) 5961 Total mail order................... (*) (*) 53,56,57, GAF................................ (*) (*) 594 (*) Advance estimates are not available from the subsample panel for these kinds of business. (NA) Not available. (r) Revised.TABLE 2. PERCENT CHANGE IN ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES--August 2000
Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Aug Jul 2000 2000 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jul Aug Jun Jul CODE 2000 1999 2000 1999 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +0.2 +7.0 +0.9 +8.3 Total (excl. auto dealers). +0.3 +8.3 +0.8 +9.1 Durable goods, total........ 0.0 +4.5 +1.1 +6.2 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.1 +2.2 +0.1 +1.7 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ -0.4 +3.3 +1.1 +6.0 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. -0.4 +3.1 +1.1 +5.9 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +1.1 +6.6 +0.3 +6.8 Nondurable goods, total..... +0.3 +8.9 +0.7 +9.8 53 General merchandise group stores.. +0.2 +8.0 +1.5 +8.6 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +0.5 +7.3 +1.2 +7.2 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) +1.6 +7.1 54 Food stores....................... +0.3 +6.5 +0.1 +6.5 541 Grocery stores.................. +0.3 +6.1 0.0 +6.2 554 Gasoline service stations......... -1.3 +16.6 +0.7 +22.3 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +0.3 +2.8 0.0 +3.8 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.2 +7.6 +1.0 +8.3 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +1.2 +10.6 +1.5 +9.8 Not Adjusted for Seasonal, Holiday and Trading-day Differences (Percent Change) Aug Jul 2000 2000 adv. prel. from-- from-- SIC Kind of business Jul Aug Jun Jul CODE 2000 1999 2000 1999 Prel. Final Final Final Retail trade, total........... +4.7 +9.1 -3.0 +5.2 Total (excl. auto group).. +3.8 +9.9 -1.5 +6.5 Durable goods, total........ +6.4 +7.3 -6.0 +2.1 52 Building mat., hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers.. +0.9 +4.0 -8.3 -1.9 55 ex. 554 Automotive dealers................ +7.1 +6.9 -7.3 +1.6 551,2,5, Motor vehicle and miscellaneous 6,7,9 automotive dealers............. +7.2 +6.8 -7.7 +1.5 57 Furniture, home furnishings, and equipment stores................. +7.5 +8.6 +0.2 +4.1 Nondurable goods, total..... +3.4 +10.5 -0.8 +7.6 53 General merchandise group stores.. +6.1 +9.2 -2.8 +7.2 531 Dept. stores (ex. leased dept.). +7.3 +8.4 -3.0 +6.1 531 Dept. stores (in. leased dept.). (NA) (NA) -3.1 +5.9 54 Food stores....................... -0.3 +8.5 +1.8 +4.1 541 Grocery stores.................. -0.4 +8.1 +1.9 +3.8 554 Gasoline service stations......... -0.2 +17.5 -0.4 +19.9 56 Apparel and accessory stores...... +16.8 +5.2 -3.0 +0.4 58 Eating and drinking places........ -0.3 +8.0 +1.8 +6.4 591 Drug and proprietary stores....... +3.8 +12.4 -1.5 +7.9 (NA) Not Available. SOURCE:Advance Monthly Retail Sales--August 2000 (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) 457-2713/2666.
Estimates of sampling variability are given in Table 3. They are based on two components. The first component is a measure of the average difference between the Advance and the Preliminary estimates. The second reflects the variability of the Preliminary estimate. Additionally, both the Advance and the full survey are subject to nonsampling errors. Such errors can occur because of nonresponse, insufficient coverage of the universe of retail businesses, and response errors, among others. Precautionary steps are taken to minimize these errors, but their magnitude is not directly measured.
Preliminary estimates for the current month and final estimates for the previous month based on the full sample are published next month in the Monthly Retail Trade Report. This report will provide sales estimates in greater detail and additional measures of sampling variability. It will also present a description of revisions and the techniques used in developing the estimates, and an explanation of confidence intervals and sampling variability (Appendix B, Reliability of Data).
(2) ---- These columns measure the difference between the Advance/Preliminary ratio and the Preliminary/Final ratio estimates -- i.e., the difference between estimates of trend for the same pair of data months. The revisions for Retail trade total are based on the latest 12 months of data.
2nd Quarter 2000
Retail E-Commerce Sales 
Source: U. S. Census Bureau
Service Sector Statistics Division
