wmeubank@ocp.kcmo.com
ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL
SALES SUMMARY–OCTOBER 1997
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for October adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $213.7 billion, a decrease of 0.2 percent (+/—0.7%) from the previous month and 3.4 percent (+/—0.9%) above October 1996. Total sales for the August through October period were 4.5 percent (+/—0.7%) above the same period a year ago. The August to September 1997 percent change was revised from +0.3 percent (+/—0.7%) to —0.1 percent (+/—0.5%).
Durable goods decreased 0.9 percent (+/—1.4%) from September and were 2.8 percent above last year. Building materials and furniture sales were up 4.6 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively, from October 1996.
Nondurable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/—0.6%) from last month and were 3.7 percent above the previous year. General merchandise sales were up 5.5 percent from October 1996.
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 Changes-X Oct 1997 Sep 1997 adv. from prel. from Sep Oct Aug Sep '97 '96 '97 '96 prel. final final final Retail trade, total —0.2 +3.4 —0.1 +4.5 Total, excl. auto. +0.4 +4.1 +0.3 +4.5 Durable goods, total —0.9 +2.8 —0.8 +5.0 Building materials, hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers —0.1 +4.6 +0.1 +5.2 Automotive dealers —2.0 +1.2 —1.4 +4.4 Motor vehicle and misc. automotive dealers —2.0 +1.2 —1.3 +4.7 Furniture, home furnishings and equipment stores +0.0 +5.9 —0.8 +5.4 Nondurable goods, total +0.2 +3.7 +0.4 +4.1 Gen. merch. stores +1.1 +5.5 —0.4 +5.0 Dept. stores excl. leased depts. +1.0 +6.2 —0.54 +5.6 incl. leased depts. N/A N/A +0.8 +5.3 Food stores +0.3 +2.1 +0.7 +2.0 Grocery stores +0.3 +1.4 +0.8 +1.3 Gasoline service stations +0.4 +1.2 +1.5 +2.7 Apparel and accessory stores +0.9 +3.8 —1.9 +1.9 Eating and drinking places —0.3 +3.8 +1.4 +5.3 Drug and proprietary stores +0.7 +7.6 +1.3 +8.8
X–Adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences.
N/A–Not available.
November 14, 1997 U.S. Department of Commerce
Hosted by:
One Crossroads Place
610 West Maple Ave, Suite WWW
Independence, MO 64050
(816) 252-4080
sysop@kcmo.com