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ADVANCE MONTHLY RETAIL
SALES SUMMARY–SEPTEMBER 1997
The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail sales for September adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $215.5 billion, an increase of 0.3 percent (+/—0.7%) from the previous month and 5.2 percent (+/—0.9%) above September 1996. Total sales for the third quarter were 5.4 percent (+/—0.5%) above the same quarter a year ago. The July to August 1997 percent change was revised from +0.4 percent (+/—0.7%) to +0.6 percent (+/—0.4%).
Durable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/—1.4%) from August and were 6.4 percent above last year. Automotive dealers sales were up 6.9 percent from September 1996.
Nondurable goods increased 0.3 percent (+/—0.6%) from last month and were 4.4 percent above last year. General merchandise sales were up 5.0 percent from September 1996 while food sales were up 2.6 percent in the same period.
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 Sep 1997 Aug 1997 adv. from prel. from Aug Sep Jul Aug '97 '96 '97 '96 prel.finalfinalfinal Retail trade, total +0.3 +5.2 +0.6 +5.8 Total, excl. auto. +0.2 +4.6 +0.2 +5.1 Durable goods, total +0.2 +6.4 +1.1 +7.0 Building materials, hardware, garden supply, and mobile home dealers —0.5 +4.6 —1.2 +5.5 Automotive dealers +0.6 +6.9 +1.9 +8.1 Motor vehicle and misc. automotive dealers +0.7 +7.1 +2.0 +8.4 Furniture, home furnishings and equipment stores +0.6 +8.1 +1.3 +8.1 Nondurable goods, total +0.3 +4.4 +0.3 +5.0 Gen. merch. stores —0.6 +5.0 +0.4 +6.5 Dept. stores excl. leased —0.9 +5.2 +0.4 +7.5 incl. leased depts. N/A N/A +0.8 +7.8 Food stores +1.4 +2.6 0.0 +2.3 Grocery stores +1.6 +2.1 0.0 +1.7 Gasoline service stations +1.5 +3.4 +1.4 +2.5 Apparel and accessory stores —0.7 +4.1 +1.2 +6.2 Eating and drinking places —0.4 +2.9 —0.2 +3.9 Drug and proprietary stores +0.8 +8.9 —0.2 +8.1
X–Adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences.
N/A–Not available.
October 15, 1997U.S. Department of Commerce
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