View original document

The full text on this page is automatically extracted from the file linked above and may contain errors and inconsistencies.

r- 7 (-3
BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 31, I960.

G.7.4.1

DEPARTMENT STORE MERCHANDISING DATA

Zz

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY I960

>^

6U

Amount
i
(In millions of dollars)
I960
1
1959
Feb, 1 Jan.
Feb,
I Jan.

cen-M^iange
, from
Monl^/qi^Year
ago
r ° ago

344

38O

- 6

+5

1,299

rl,280

1,222

+ 5

+6

502

459

449

417

+ 9

+12

P

423

373

r

402

368

+13

+ 5

p

466

460

r

434

452

+ 1

+7

Sales l/

p

360

384

Stocks l/

pi,362

Outstanding Orders

p

Receipts 2/
New Orders 2/

r

r

r

Merchandising Ratios j/
I960

1959
I Jan.

1955-59 Average
Jan.
Feb.

Feb.
3.7

3.2

3.8

3.2

Stocks to Sales

00

Jan.

id

Feb.

3.4

Outstanding Orders
to Sales

P

1.4

1.2

1.3

1.1

1.3

1.1

Stocks plus Outstanding
Orders to Sales

P

5.2

4.6

5.0

4.3

5.1

4,4

Receipts to Sales 2/

P

1.2

1.0

1.2

1.0

1.2

1.0

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.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.
2/ 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
'I stores located in various cities throughout the country. In 1959» 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.