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G.7.4.1

BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL, RESERVE SYSTEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, i960.

M"

DEPARTMENT STORE MERCHANDISING DATA

%

UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 1959

(Selected series, based on retail dollar amounts) ^q.^6^
Per cem^C^atee
Amount
December
from
(In millions of dollars)
Year
Month
1958
1959
ago
ago
Nov.
Dec.
Nov.
Dec.

Sales 1/

P 937

578

r 912

538

+62

+ 3

Stocks l/

P1309

1639

rl233

1567

-20

+ 6

Outstanding Orders

P 373

521

r 333

462

-28

+12

Receipts 2/

P 607

639

r 578

587

- 5

+ 5

P 459

556

r 449

506

-17

+ 2

Orders 2/

Merchandising Ratios 3/
1954-58 Average
|
Nov.
Dec.
1.4
2.7

Stocks to Sales

Dec.
1.4

Outstanding Orders
to Sales

p 0.4

0.9

0.4

0.9

0.4

0.8

Tf
H
00

1958

1959
Dec.
Nov.
2.8
P 1-4

3.7

1.7

3-8

1.8

3-5

p 0.6

1.1

0.6

1.1

0.6

1.1

Stocks plus Outstanding
Orders to Sales
Receipts to Sales 2/

Nov,
2.9

p—Preliminary.
r—Revised.
l/ 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.y.4.2 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.
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 45 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.