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y BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM y& .J .5 FOR BMEDIATE RELEASE January 31, 1956 G.7.U.1 STORE MERCHANDISING DATA ,, 4 , < <C > Sales 1/ UNITED STATES - DECEMBER 1 9 ^ % x -vv %%YSelected series, based on retail dollar g/raffints „ Amount r ' Per^cent, change .' Decembei from (In millions of dollars) r Year 1955 1954 'J,Month 1 •>c Le» ago ago Nov* Nov, Dec. I + 6 +50 513 546 r 774 P 817 Stocks 1/ pl,138 1,1A5 |rl,067 -20 1,327 + 7 i Outstanding orders P 358 1+87 r 299 406 | —26 1 + 20 Receipts 2/ p 54o 611 r 5lU 565 ! j -12 + 5 New orders 2j P 411 517 r h07 492 ; | -2i + 1 Merchandising Ratios 3/ 1955 Nov. Dec. 1954 Nov. Dec. 11950-54 Average Dec. Nov. Stocks to Sales pi.4 2.6 1.4 2.6 1.5 2.7 Outstanding Orders to Sales p0.4 0.9 0.4 0.8 o.5 0.9 Stocks plus Outstanding Orders to Sales pi.8 3.5 1.8 3.4 1.9 3.6 Receipts to Sales 2/ p0.7 l.l 0.7 l.l 0.6 1.1 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. 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 1955, sales by these stores account 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 and Statistics.
