Full text of G.16 Retail Furniture Report : October 6, 1955

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BOARD OF GOVERNORS CF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
G.16

October 6, 19$$.
M A I L FURNITURE REPORT FOR AUGUST 1955
Instalment accounts outstanding at furniture stores increased 2 per cent during August, and at the end of the month were
5 per cent above a year earlier. The August collection ratio, estimated at 13 per cent, was 1 point above both a month ago and a
year ago.
Sales of all types increased from July to August, when
some increase is usual, and continued well above a year ago. Instalment sales during the first eight months of 1955 were 11 per
cent above the corresponding period of last year, charge-account
sales were up 12 per cent, and cash sales were up 6 per cent.
The retail value of furniture store inventories increased
1 per cent during August, and at the end of the month was 3 per
cent above a year ago. At the August rate of sales, stocks on
hand amounted to about a U month's supply.

Furniture Store Statistics for August 1955

Item

Net sales during month
Total
Cash
Instalment
Charge Account
Accounts receivable, at end of month
Total
Instalment
Charge account
Inventories, end of month, at retail value

Collection ratios on instalment accounts 1/

Percentage change from
Jan.-Aug. 195k
Year
to
ago
Jan.-Aug. 1955

Month
ago

+ 8
+. 9
+ 7
+12

•lit
+13
+15
+17

•11
+12

+ 9

:•*

+ 9
+ 6
+15

XXX
XXX
XXX

+ 1

+ 3

Aug.
1955

J*uJy
1955

23

12

Aug.
195U

12

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




RETAIL FURNITURE STORES - AUGUST 195$
Sales by Type of Transaction
(Percentage changes)

Total net sales

Federal
Reserve
District

Month

Boston
New York
Philadelphia
Cleveland
Richmond
Atlanta
Chicago
St. Louis
Lirmeapolis
Kansas City
Dallas
San Francisco
U« S. Total

Cash i
sales

Year

Month
ago

Year
ago

Charge-account
sales
iaonth
Year
ago
arco

Insta:Lraent
sa:les
isaontli Year
ago
ago

+10
+12
+ 7
+ 8
+ 8
+10
+ 5
+ 7
+17
+ 6
+ 6
+ 8

- 1
+ 3
+11
+16
+19
+22
+16
+15
+10
+ 6
+2li
+21

-13
+10
+ 5
- 8
+ 9
+13
+ 9
+10
+21
+3U
+17
+12

+17
- h
+16
+ 5
+ 2
+ 7
+10
+ 2
+31
• 5
+16
+ 9
+ 1
+19
+ 1
+ 9
+11
+16
+ 9
- 2
+28 | + 8
+19
+ 5

+ 8

+1U

+ 9

+13

+ 7

- 1
+ 1
+11
+17
+18
+22
+1h
+11
• 5
+ 8
+29
+25

+ 2 I + 2
+ 1 j + 6
+21 | +16
+ 6 i +13
+21 : +19
+19 i 4 5
+18 1 +20
+29 i +39
+19 i +36
*9 , \ - 3
o i + 8
+12 •; +15

+15

+12

+17

Cumulative Sales by Type of Transaction, Instalment
Accounts Receivable, and Inventories
(Percentage changes)

Cumulative sales, Jan.-Aug.
change from 195k to 1955
Total

Cash

+ h
- 2

+ U
+ 2
- 1
+ 1
+21
+11
+10
+ 3
- 3
- 3
+11
+13

+ 6
+ 9
+12
+12
+12
+ 9
+ 7
+ 3
>19
+15
U . S . Total

+ 9




Inst

f l " Chargement
account
+ 1
0
+ 9
+ 9
+11
+12
+11
+ 8
+ 8
+ 5
+23
+19

+11
+13
+ h
+16
+12
+13
+19
+16
+15
+ 3
+13

+11

+12

Instalment
receivables,
end of month
Month
Year
ago
ago
+ 2
-

2

- 1
+ 2
+ 6
+* 3
+ 1
+ 2
0
+ 1
+ 3
0
+ 2

- 1
-11
+ 6
+ 2
+11
+16
+ 8
+ 7
+11
- 2

+30
+13

Inventories
end of month,
at retail value
Month
ago
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
-

3
U
3
3
1
0
5
6
U
3
1

+ 1