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BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THh FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3 , 1956 Pa.7.1ui DEPARTMENT STORE MERCHANDISING DATA UNITED STATES - OCTOBER 1956 ~ X ^ d series, based on retail dolla^/amounts ' ^"WE^r cent change Amount ^ from > (In millions of dollars}1f> Year a Montfcf 1956 19J5?X ' ago Oct. Sept. Oct. ,3L z Sales 1/ Stocks 1/ ^ pU8U plk?5 iil. tti \ ? 9 rU77 1,335 rl36l * 1 1,253 '% g » 1 0 + 8 Outstanding orders P587 598 r582 577 — 2 +1 Receipts 2/ p62U 526 r585 516 +19 + 7 New orders 2/ p613 551 r590 5U5 +11 + h Merchandising Ratios 3/ 1956 Oct. Sept. * 1955 Oct, Sept. 1951-55 Average Sept. Oct. Stocks to Sales P3.0 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.9 3.0 Outstanding Orders to Sales pl .2 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.1 1.3 Stocks plus Outstanding Orders to Sales . pU.3 U.U ii.l W U.o k.3 Receipts to Sales 2/ pl.3 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 1.2 p—Preliminary. r—Revised. 1/ Figures are based on the sample described in the note below and are presented Here solely to permit comparisons with changes in orders and receipts. For monthly movements of total departmenttstore sales and stocks, refer to the regular monthly sales report G.7.2 and stocks report G.7.U.2 or the Federal Reserve Bulletin. 2/ Receipts of goods are derived from the reported figures on sales and stocks. New orders are derived from receipts and reported figures on outstanding orders. 3/ The first three ratios are of stocks and/or orders at the end of the month to sales during the month. The final ratio is based on totals of sales and receipts for the month. Notes—These figures are not estimates for all department stores in the United States. They are the actual dollar amounts reported by a group of department stores located in various cities throughout the country. In 1955# sales by these stores accounted for about 50 per cent of estimated total department store sales. Figures for the most recent thirteen-month period are shown regularly in the Bulletin. For description and back data, January 1939 to August 1952, see Federal Reserve Bulletin for October 1952, pp. 1098-1102» Back data may be obtained from the Board's Division of Research & Statistics.
