Full text of G.16 Retail Furniture Report : February 3, 1950

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- 1

ITS

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL" RESERVE SYSTEU
G.16

February 3, 1950
RETAIL FURNITURE REPORT FOR DECEMBER 19l*9

Retail furniture store sales showed a sharp seasonal rise in December
and were 3 per cent larger than in the corresponding month of the preceding
year. Cash sales were nearly one and one-half times the November figure. Less
marked increases occurred during the month in both types of credit transactions.
Instalment sales continued: well above those of a year earlier while cash and
charge-account business was about one-tenth below the year-ago volume.
Instalment accounts receivable increased 13 per cent during December
to a year-end figure 22 per cent larger than the amount carried on the books
at the close of 191*8. Collections on instalment accounts rose moderately and
the collection ratio, based on December 1 accounts receivable, was 11 per cent,
the- prevailing rate in the three preceding months. A year earlier instalment
indebtedness was being repaid at a somewhat faster rate.
Inventories were reduced in December as is customary in months of
large sale volume. At the end of the year they amounted to leas than three
months * supply at the current rate of sale or about 15 per cent below those of
a year earlier. A similar relationship has existed between 191*8 and 1?1*9
inventories for about six months.

Furniture Store Statistics for December 191*9
Percentage ,
change from:
Nov. 19U9
Dec. 19U8
to
to
Dec. 1919
Dec. 191*9

Item

Net sales
Total
Cash sales
Credit sales:

+31
+1*7
•30
+26

+ 3
-11
+11
- 9

Accounts receivable, at end of month
Total
Instalment

+10
+13

+18
+22

Collections during month
Total
Instalment

*•$

+ 1*

- 6
- 3

Inventories, e.:d of month, at retail value

-10

-15

Instalment
Charge account

I'.Oiij.—These figures are preliminary and subject to revision.




G.16

- 2 RETAIL FURNITURE STORES - DECE1EER 19h9*
Sales and Inventories
Percentape change

Inventories .
end of monthi'
!Iov.'lt9 Dec. '1*8Nov. '1*9 Dec.'It8 Nov. 'It9 Dec.*1x8 iiov. *U9 Dec. »lt8
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
f
Dec.'h9 Dec.''1x9 Dec. '1x9 Dec. *1*9 Dec.'19 Dec. U9 Dec. '1*9 Dec.'19
Total net sales

Federal
Reserve
District

+26
+38
+31
+31
+26
+Wt
+2$
+29"
+17
+16
+30
+32

Boston
llevr York
Philadelphia
Cleveland
Richmond
Atlanta
Chicago
St. Louis
Minneapolis
Kansas CityDallas
San rrancisco

+13
+ It
+ 1
+ 1
+ it
+ 9
+ 2
+13
- It
- 5
+10
- 1

Cash sales

+32
+31
+6l
+92
+38
+66
+35
+55
+u3
+29
+55
+63

+llt
- 7
— 8
-18
-lh
- 8
-13
- 6
-20
-17
-10
-13

Credit sales

+19
+U
+28
+28
+23

+12

+13
+23
+ 8
+13
+29
+30

+12
+ 7
+ 3
+ 3
+ 8
+15
+11
+11*
+ 7
- 2
+15
+ 1

- 5
-16
-11
- 6
-10
-lit
-11
-13
- 8
- 5
- 7
-7

-13
-12
-lit
-23
+ 1
— 8
- 9
-Hi
-15
-21
-15
-23

U. S. Total

+31

+ 3

+lt7

-11

+29

+ 7

-10

-15

Number of stores

685

682

538

538

538

538

179

U79

1/ At retail value.

Federal
Reserve
District

Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Cleveland
Richmond
Atlanta
Chicago '
St. Louis
Minneapolis
Kansas CityDallas
San Francisco

Accounts Receivable and Collections

Percentage change
Collections during month
Accounts receivable,end of month
Instalment
Total
Instalment
Total
f
Dec.
'
1
,
8
Nov.
'ii9 Dec.11x8 Nov.'h9 Dec.'48
Nov.
'
I
t
9
Nov. * U9Dec. lt8
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
Dec.* U9 Dec.'it9 Dec. 'It9 Dec.'1:9 Dec.'U9 Dec.'1)9 Dec.'L9 Dec.' lt9
+ 6
+17
+ 8
+12
+ 7
+

%

+ 5
+ 9
+ 2
+ 6
+ 7
+11

+26
+21
+ 9
+llt
+22
+12

+2h

+22
+Ht
+15
+26
+11

+ 2
+18
+ 8
+ 8
+ 8

+ 9
+ 8
+llt
+ 8
+ 6
+11

+Ht
+2lx
+ 8
+20
+16
+15
+35
+30
+lit
+38
+26
+U5

+10
+ 2
+13
+19
+ 1
+ 7
+ 6
+ 5
+ 1
+ 7
+ 7
+ 1

+ 3
- 2
- 2
- 5
- h
- 7
- 2
+ 1
- 9
-12
- 1
-16

+ 1
+ 2
+13
+ 1
+10
+ 7
+ 3
+ It
+ 3
" +22
+ a
- 7

- 5
+ l
- It
- It
-10
- 5
-13
+ 3
-15
- 3
- 2
- 7

+ 9

U. S. Total

+10

+18

+13

+22

+ 5

- 6

+ It

- 3

Number of stores

621

621

223

223

621

621

223

223

December
19U9 figures are preliminary and subject to revision.
Digitized*for
FRASER