Full text of G.16 Retail Furniture Report : February 4, 1955

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BOARD OF GCtfERNCRS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
4

%

G.26

February U, 1 9 #
RETAIL FURNITURE REPORT FCR DECEMBER 195k
Instalment accounts outstanding at furniture stores
increased 5 per cent during December, but continued about 1 per
cent below a year ago. Collections amounted to 12 per cent of
balances outstanding at the beginning of the month, the same as
in the preceding month but 1 point above a year earlier.
Sales of all types increased from November to December,
when a sharp rise in sales is customary. Instalment sales were
up 21 per cent, charge account sales 19 per cent, and cash sales
39 per cent. Instalment and charge-account sales were also up
from December a year ago — 5 per cent and 2 per cent, respectively,
while cash sales were unchanged. Sales for all of 195U were about
6 per ccnt below 1953.
Furniture store inventories declined 8 per cent during
December, and at the month end were 5 per cent below a year earlier.
Stocks on hand at the end of the month amounted to about a 3 months'
supply.
Furniture Store Statistics for December 195k

Item

Percentage change from:
Jan.-Dec. 1953
Year
to
ago Jan.-Dec. 195k

Month
ago

Net sales during month
Total
Cash
Instalment
Charge account

+23
+39
+21
+19

+ 2
0
+ 5
+ 2

Accounts receivable, at end of month
Total
Instalment
Charge account

+ 6
+ 5
+ 8

+ 1
- 1
+10

Inventories, end of month, at retail value

— 8

- 5

Collection ratios on instalment accounts 1/

- 6
- 6
- 6

v

-

1

XXX
XXX
XXX

Dec.
195U

Nov.
195k

Dec.
1953

12

12

11

1/ Collections during month as percentage of accounts outstanding at
beginning of month.




— 2 —

RETAIL FURNITURE STORES - DECEMBER 19 5U
Sales by Type of Transaction
(Percentage changes)
Federal
Reserve^
District

Total net sales
Month
ago

Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Cleveland
Richmond
Atlanta
Chicago
St. Louis
I Minneapolis
Kansss City
Dallas
San Francisco

.

U. S. Total

Year
ago

+13
+ 3
+27
+23
+29

Cash i
Month
ago

+26
+18
+13
+23
+33
+27

- h
- 7
- ii
- 1
+ 2
+ 9
+ 3
+ U
+ 2
+ 7
+15
+ 8

+57
+72
+52
+35
+53
+28
+57
+35

+23

+ 2

+39

+Uo

-*5o

- 3
+ a
+63

Year
ago

- 9 ; + 8
+ U
+ 6
+22
-12
-12
+25
+ 2
+2U
+ 8
+39
0 - +21
+ 3
+19
+ 5
- 9
+18
+ 3
+ 2
+29
+20
0
0

Charge-account
sales
Month j Year
ago 1 ago

Instalment
sales
Year
llonth
ago

+21

- 8
-lli
- 6
0
+12
+ 9
+ h
+11
+ 7
+ 3
+21
+16

+13
-15
+26
+33
+30
- 5
+15
+10
- 6
+31
+35
+35

+ 5

+19

Is

!

+ 9
+ u
-15
+ 5
+ 3
- 3
-20
+19
+ 3
+ U
+ 2

Cumulative Sales by Type of Transaction, Instalment
Accounts Receivable, and Inventories
(Percentage changes)
Federal
Reserve
District .
Boston
Nevz York
Philadelphia
Cleveland
Richmond
Atlanta
Chicago
St. Louis
Minneapolis
Kansas City
Dallas
San Francisco
U . S . Total

Instalment
receivables,
end of month
Year
Instal- Charge- Month
account
ago
ment

Cumulative sales, Jan.-Dec.,
change from 1953 to 195U
Total

Cash

- 5
-15
-11
-12
- 5
0
- 5
0
- l
- 5
- 1
- 3

- 7
-11
-13
- 9
- 5+ 3
- h
+ 1
- 1
- 2
- 7
- h

- 8
-17
-12
-13
- 3
- 1
- 6
- 1
+ 1
-10
+ 3
- l

+ 2
+ 2
0
- 9
- 7
+ 3
+ 5
+ h
-13
+ 6
- L
- 3

+ U
+ 3
- + 5
+ 6
+ 6
+ 6
+ 5
+ 5
+ 6
+ 3
'+ 9
+ h

- 6

- 6

- 6

- 1

+ 5

n.a.—Not available.




Inventories
end of month,
at retail value
Year
Month
ago
ago

- V
+ 3
+ 2
-13
+10
+ 1

- ii
-11
- 7
-10
-lli
-10
- 7
-10
- 5
- 8
- 5
- 3

-11
-23
- 9
0
" - ii
+ 1
+ 5
- ii
- 6
- 1
+ ii
- 8

- 1

- 8

- 5

n.a.
-10
- 3
- 7
0