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T-

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

G.7.4,1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 30, 1959*
DEPARTMENT STORE MERCHANDISING DATA
Vti,c R k #
^

K\

Sales 1/

UNITED STATES - NOVEMBER 1959

/

n
/>yi
nvVvf(%felected series, based on retail dollar f o u n t s P / r V
f Per cent change
Amount
ember from
(In millions of dollars
Year
1959
1
1958^%"^
ago
Octo
Nov,
Nov,
October
r ^ m
Go
+ 7
+ 9
502
531
538
P 577

!*»

1,578

1,567

1,518

+ 4

+ 5

520

604

462

543

-14

+13

p

639

626

587

626

+ 2

+ 9

P

555

603

506

617

- 8

+10

Stocks 1/

pi,640

Outstanding Orders

P

Receipts 2/
New Orders 2/

r

Merchandising Ratios
1959
November1 October

1954-58 Average
1958
October
November October November

Stocks to Sales

P

2.8

3.0

2.9

3.0

2,7

3.0

Outstanding Orders
to Sales

P

0.9

1.1

0,9

1.1

0.8

1.1

Stocks plus Outstanding
Orders to Sales

P

3.7

4.1

3.8

4.1

3.5

4.1

Receipts to Sales 2J

P

1,1

1,2

1,1

1.2

1.1

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 department store sales and stocks, refer to the regular
monthly sales report G.7.2 and stocks report G.7.4.2 or the Federal Reserve
Bulletin.
Z j 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,
\l 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.
Note:—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 1958, sales by these
stores accounted for about 4-5 per cent of the 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 and Statistics.