CB-01-68

Special Notice:

On June 13 with the release of the advance monthly retail sales estimates for May 2001, we will begin using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) in place of the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. In addition, we will restate the unadjusted and adjusted data series on a NAICS basis beginning with January 1992 through April 2001. These data series will also be revised based on the results of the 1999 Annual Retail Trade Survey, which was conducted on a NAICS basis, and will be released on June 1, 2001. For further information on NAICS, including publication stubs for the new release, see our web site at http://www.census.gov/mrts/www/naics.html

The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for March, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $274.1 billion, a decrease of 0.2 percent (±0.7%) from the previous month, but up 1.9 percent (±0.9%) from March 2000. Total sales for the January through March period were up 3.1 percent (±0.7%) from the same period a year ago. The January to February 2001 percent change was revised from -0.2 percent (±0.4%) to unchanged (±0.3%).

Durable goods decreased 0.7 percent (±1.4%) from February and were 1.0 percent (±1.8%) below last year. Building materials sales were down 3.7 percent (±4.5%) from March a year ago.

Nondurable goods increased 0.1 percent (±0.6%) from February and were up 3.9 percent from March 2000. Drug store sales were up 13.5 percent from last year. Eating and drinking places sales were up 4.6 percent from March a year ago.

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)

The Advance Monthly Retail Sales Report for April is scheduled to be released May 11, 2001 at 8:30 a.m.

This report is available the day of issue through the Department of Commerce's online Economic Bulletin Board. For information call (202) 482-1986.

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

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