FOR RELEASE AT 8:30 AM EST, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2022

ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES FOR RETAIL AND FOOD SERVICES, NOVEMBER 2022
Release Number: CB22-204
December 15, 2022 — The U.S. Census Bureau announced the following advance estimates of U.S. retail
and food services sales for November 2022:

Percent Change in Retail and Food Services Sales from

ADVANCE MONTHLY SALES
Previous Month
Data adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for
price changes.
3
November 2022 $689.4 billion -0.6%

1
October 2022
$693.5 billion 1.3%
(revised)
-1

Next release: January 18, 2023

-3
* The 90 percent confidence interval includes zero. There is insufficient statistical September October November
evidence to conclude that the actual change is different from zero. Total Ex Auto Auto Gen Mer
Data adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Advanced Monthly Retail Trade Survey,
not for price changes. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Advanced Monthly Retail December 15, 2022
Trade Survey, December 15, 2022

Advance Estimates of U.S. Retail and Food Services

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for November 2022, adjusted for seasonal
variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $689.4 billion, down 0.6
percent (±0.5 percent) from the previous month, but up 6.5 percent (±0.7 percent) above November 2021.
Total sales for the September 2022 through November 2022 period were up 7.7 percent (±0.5 percent)
from the same period a year ago. The September 2022 to October 2022 percent change was unrevised
from up 1.3 percent (±0.2 percent).
Retail trade sales were down 0.8 percent (±0.5 percent) from October 2022, but up 5.4 percent (±0.7
percent) above last year. Gasoline stations were up 16.2 percent (±1.6 percent) from November 2021,
while food services and drinking places were up 14.1 percent (±3.0 percent) from last year.
Special Notice
The advance estimates in this report are the first estimates from a new sample. For further information on
the sample revision, see our Sample Revision Frequently Asked Questions at:
<https://www.census.gov/retail/marts_sample_revision_faqs.html>.

Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Retail Indicator Branch Public Information Office
301-763-2713 301-763-3030
eid.retail.indicator.branch@census.gov pio@census.gov
General Information
The December 2022 Advance Monthly Retail report is scheduled for release on January 18, 2023 at 8:30
a.m. EST. View the full schedule in the Economic Briefing Room: <https://www.census.gov/economic-
indicators/>. The full text and tables of this release can be found at <www.census.gov/retail/>.

EXPLANATORY NOTES
The advance estimates are based on a subsample of the Census Bureau’s full retail and food services
sample. A stratified random sampling method is used to select approximately 4,800 retail and food
services firms whose sales are then weighted and benchmarked to represent the complete universe of
over three million retail and food services firms. For more information on how data is collected for the
Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey, see our methodology page at:
<https://www.census.gov/retail/marts/how_surveys_are_collected.html>.

Survey Description
The U.S. Census Bureau conducts the Advance Monthly Retail Trade and Food Services Survey to provide
an early estimate of monthly sales by kind of business for retail and food service firms located in the
United States. Each month, questionnaires are mailed to a probability sample of approximately 4,800
employer firms selected from the larger Monthly Retail Trade Survey. Advance sales estimates are
computed using a link relative estimator. For each detailed industry, we compute a ratio of current-to-
previous month weighted sales using data from units for which we have obtained usable responses for
both the current and previous month. For each detailed industry, the advance total sales estimates for the
current month is computed by multiplying this ratio by the preliminary sales estimate for the previous
month (derived from the larger MRTS) at the appropriate industry level. Total estimates for broader
industries are computed as the sum of the detailed industry estimates. The link relative estimate is used
because imputation is not performed for most nonrespondents in MARTS. For a limited number of
nonresponding companies that have influential effects on the estimates, sales may be estimated based on
historical performance of that company. The monthly estimates are benchmarked to the annual survey
estimates from the Annual Retail Trade Survey once available. The estimates are adjusted for seasonal
variation and holiday and trading day differences. Additional information on MARTS and MRTS can be
found on the Census Bureau website at: <www.census.gov/retail>.

Reliability of Estimates
Because the estimates presented in this report are based on a sample survey, they contain sampling error
and nonsampling error.

Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Retail Indicator Branch Public Information Office
301-763-2713 301-763-3030
eid.retail.indicator.branch@census.gov pio@census.gov
Sampling error is the difference between the estimate and the result that would be obtained from a
complete enumeration of the sampling frame conducted under the same survey conditions. This error
occurs because only a subset of the entire sampling frame is measured in a sample survey. Standard errors
and coefficients of variation (CV), as given in Table 3 of this report, are estimated measures of sampling
variation.
The margin of sampling error, as used on page 1, gives a range about the estimate which is a 90 percent
confidence interval. If, for example, the percent change estimate is +1.2 percent and its estimated
standard error is 0.9 percent, then the margin of sampling error is ±1.753 x 0.9 percent or ±1.6 percent,
and the 90 percent confidence interval is –0.4 percent to +2.8 percent. If the interval contains 0, then one
does not have sufficient evidence to conclude at the 90 percent confidence level that the change is
different from zero and therefore the change is not statistically significant. Estimated changes shown in
the text are statistically significant unless otherwise noted. For a monthly total, the median estimated
coefficient of variation is given. The resulting confidence interval is the estimated value ±1.753 x CV x (the
estimated monthly total). The Census Bureau recommends that individuals using estimates in this report
incorporate this information into their analyses, as sampling error could affect the conclusions drawn from
the estimates.
Nonsampling error encompasses all other factors that contribute to the total error of a sample survey
estimate. This type of error can occur because of nonresponse, insufficient coverage of the universe of
retail businesses, mistakes in the recording and coding of data, and other errors of collection, response,
coverage, or processing. Although nonsampling error is not measured directly, the Census Bureau employs
quality control procedures throughout the process to minimize this type of error.

Statement Regarding COVID-19 Impact

The Census Bureau continues to monitor response and data quality and has determined that estimates in
this release meet publication standards. For more information, see COVID-19 FAQs.

Weather Information
For information on the impact of weather events on the compilation of this report, please see the
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on our website at:
<www.census.gov/retail/marts_weather_faqs.html>

RESOURCES
The Rest of the Consumer Spending Story

Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Retail Indicator Branch Public Information Office
301-763-2713 301-763-3030
eid.retail.indicator.branch@census.gov pio@census.gov
Retail and services together represent what’s commonly referred to as consumer spending. Quarterly
Services Survey (QSS) revenue comprises roughly 2/3 of the personal consumption expenditures
component of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).
The third quarter 2022 Quarterly Services Report was released on December 8, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Learn
about historical revenue trends for certain industries going back 15 years and other data, such as in-
patient days and discharges for hospitals, by visiting <https://www.census.gov/services/index.html>.

API
The Census Bureau’s application programming interface lets developers create custom apps to reach new
users and makes key demographic, socio-economic and housing statistics more accessible than ever
before. <www.census.gov/developers/>

FRED Mobile App

Receive the latest updates on the nation’s key economic indicators by downloading
the FRED App <https://fred.stlouisfed.org/fred-mobile/> for both Apple and
Android devices. FRED, the signature database of the Federal Reserve Bank of St.
Louis, now incorporates the Census Bureau’s 13 economic indicators.
###
* The 90 percent confidence interval includes zero. There is insufficient statistical evidence to conclude that the actual change is different from zero.

Data Inquiries Media Inquiries

Economic Indicators Division, Retail Indicator Branch Public Information Office
301-763-2713 301-763-3030
eid.retail.indicator.branch@census.gov pio@census.gov
Table 1.  Estimated Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, by Kind of Business
(Total sales estimates are shown in millions of dollars and are based on data from the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey, Monthly Retail Trade Survey, 
  and administrative records.)
Not Adjusted Adjusted2
1
NAICS 11 Month Total 2022 2021 2022 2021
Kind of Business
code % Chg. Nov.3 Oct. Sept. Nov. Oct. Nov.3 Oct. Sept. Nov.  Oct.
2022 2021 (a) (p) (r) (a) (p) (r) (r) (r)
Retail & food services, 
  total ……………………………….………..……… 7,376,066 9.6 696,752 688,604 664,684 654,469 638,069 689,443 693,482 684,538 647,516 640,524
  Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts) … 5,970,773 11.1 579,248 562,068 539,505 538,632 517,883 562,931 564,000 557,087 522,591 517,827
  Total (excl. gasoline stations) ………………6,670,905 7.6 636,398 623,707 602,900 602,186 583,335 625,100 629,100 623,122 592,131 586,332
  Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts &  
     gasoline stations) ………………………. 5,265,612 8.8 518,894 497,171 477,721 486,349 463,149 498,588 499,618 495,671 467,206 463,635
     Retail …..…………………………….……….. 6,441,598 8.6 611,784 597,826 577,370 579,687 557,737 599,052 603,869 596,342 568,298 562,075
GAFO4………………………....……...……...…………..………..……… (*) (*) (*) 127,172 121,165 137,115 125,223 (*) 128,058 127,889 125,483 125,527
 
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers …….……… 1,405,293 3.5 117,504 126,536 125,179 115,837 120,186 126,512 129,482 127,451 124,925 122,697
4411, 4412        Auto & other motor veh. dealers . 1,291,196 2.9 107,057 115,865 114,453 106,400 110,342 115,863 118,958 116,789 115,276 113,055
44111            New car dealers ……………….……….. (*) (*) (*) 94,201 91,670 85,574 87,437 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
4413        Auto parts, acc. & tire stores…………… (*)   (*) (*) 10,671 10,726 9,437 9,844 (*) 10,524 10,662 9,649 9,642
442 Furniture & home furn. stores …………… 130,570 1.0 12,374 11,990 11,926 12,795 12,040 11,751 12,062 11,831 12,139 12,016
4421        Furniture stores …………………..………. (*) (*) (*) 6,592 6,734 6,656 6,629 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
4422        Home furnishings stores ………..……… (*)
  (*) (*) (S) (S) (S) (S) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
443 Electronics & appliance stores …………… 78,373
  ‐6.4 8,442 6,863 6,906 8,940 7,896 7,106 7,217 7,285 7,431 8,312
444 Building material & garden eq. &  
  supplies dealers…………………….………..… 471,619 7.3 40,943 43,156 42,628 39,491 39,435 42,485 43,578 43,000 41,016 39,895
4441        Building mat. & sup. dealers …………… (*)
  (*) (*) 37,447 37,504 34,925 34,618 (*) 37,711 37,243 35,931 34,792
445 Food & beverage stores…………….………. 859,061 7.7 82,431 80,804 78,216 75,733 75,780 81,628 81,009 79,984 75,540 75,331
4451        Grocery stores …………………..………..… 771,182 8.4 73,603 72,515 70,156 67,280 67,795 73,164 72,588 71,661 67,347 67,324
4453        Beer, wine & liquor stores ……………… (*)
  (*) (*) 5,967 5,836 6,021 5,761 (*) 6,101 6,004 5,868 5,807
446 Health & personal care stores …….……… 362,427 4.1 33,826 34,030 33,491 32,432 32,541 34,168 33,928 33,932 32,694 32,444
44611        Pharmacies & drug stores ……………… (*)
  (*) (*) 28,283 27,501 26,784 27,288 (*) 27,810 27,807 27,192 26,858
447 Gasoline stations ……………………………..… 705,161
  32.6 60,354 64,897 61,784 52,283 54,734 64,343 64,382 61,416 55,385 54,192
448 Clothing & clothing accessories  
  stores …………………………….…..………..…… 271,955
  6.8 29,217 25,172 23,966 28,725 24,366 26,353 26,409 26,403 26,165 25,420
44811        Men's clothing stores …………………… (*) (*) (*) (S) (S) (S) (S) (*) (S) (S) (S) (S)
44812        Women's clothing stores ………..……… (*) (*) (*) 3,206 3,197 3,823 3,269 (*) 3,312 3,394 3,460 3,319
44814        Family clothing stores …………………… (*) (*) (*) 10,444 9,421 11,933 9,785 (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA) (NA)
4482        Shoe stores ………………………………..… (*)
  (*) (*) 3,191 3,209 3,340 3,064 (*) 3,522 3,530 3,323 3,330
451 Sporting goods, hobby, musical  
  instrument, & book stores ………………… 97,657   2.8 10,391 8,861 8,998 10,040 8,605 9,303 9,357 9,295 9,136 8,954
452 General merchandise stores……….……… 741,564 3.1 76,581 70,683 66,464 74,215 69,188 70,070 70,145 70,343 68,109 68,323
4521        Department stores ………………….……… 117,235 1.3 12,723 10,903 10,407 13,079 11,103 10,928 11,254 11,540 11,268 11,465
4529        Other general merch. stores…. ..…… (*) (*) (*) 59,780 56,057 61,136 58,085 (*) 58,891 58,803 56,841 56,858
45291            Warehouse clubs &    
             supercenters………………….………..… (*) (*) (*) 51,314 47,859 52,309 49,965 (*) 50,357 50,272 48,660 48,794
45299            All oth. gen. merch. stores…………… (*)
  (*) (*) 8,466 8,198 8,827 8,120 (*) 8,534 8,531 8,181 8,064
453 Miscellaneous store retailers ……..……… 171,799
  17.0 16,228 16,542 15,904 14,565 14,988 16,249 16,176 15,992 14,493 14,616
454 Nonstore retailers …………………..………..…1,146,119 11.4 123,493 108,292 101,908 114,631 97,978 109,084 110,124 109,410 101,265 99,875
4541        Elect. shopping & m/o houses ….…… (*) (*) (*) 97,148 92,116 104,804 88,768 (*) 98,828 98,625 91,772 90,580
722 Food services & drinking places ……….. 934,468 17.2 84,968 90,778 87,314 74,782 80,332 90,391 89,613 88,196 79,218 78,449

   (*) Advance estimates are not available for this kind of business.      (NA)  Not available     (a)  Advance estimate     (p)  Preliminary estimate     (r)  Revised estimate

   (S)   Estimate does not meet publication standards because of high sampling variability (coefficient of variation is greater than 30%), poor response quality                            
          (total quantity response rate is less than 50%), or other concerns about the estimate's quality.
   (1)   For a full description of the NAICS codes used in this table, see <https://www.census.gov/naics/>.
   (2)   Estimates are concurrently adjusted for seasonal variation and for holiday and trading day differences, but not for price changes. Concurrent seasonal adjustment 
          uses all available unadjusted estimates as input to the X‐13ARIMA‐SEATS program.  The factors derived from the program are used in calculating all seasonally
          adjusted estimates shown in this table.  Year‐to‐date seasonally adjusted sales estimates are not tabulated.  Adjustment factors and explanatory material can be found
          on the Internet at <http://www.census.gov/retail>.
   (3)   Advance estimates are based on early reports obtained from a small sample of firms selected from the larger Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) sample.   
          All other estimates are from the MRTS sample.
   (4)   GAFO represents firms which specialize in department store types of merchandise and is comprised of furniture & home furnishings (442), electronics & appliances (443),   
          clothing & accessories (448), sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, and book  (451), general merchandise (452), office supply, stationery, and gift stores (4532).
   Source:   U.S. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey, December 15, 2022. Table 3 provides estimated measures of sampling variability.  Additional information on 
               confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at
               <www.census.gov/retail/how_surveys_are_collected.html>.
Table 2.  Estimated Change in Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services, by Kind of Business
(Estimates are shown as percents and are based on data from the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey,  Monthly Retail Trade Survey,
 and administrative records.)
Percent Change1
Sep. 2022
Nov. 2022 Advance Oct. 2022 Preliminary through
NAICS Kind of Business from ‐‐ from ‐‐ Nov. 2022 from ‐‐
code Jun. 2022 Sep. 2021
Oct. 2022 Nov. 2021 Sep. 2022 Oct. 2021 through through
(p) (r) (r) (r) Aug. 2022 Nov. 2021
Retail & food services, 
  total ………………………………..…………..…… ‐0.6 6.5 1.3 8.3 0.8 7.7
  Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts) ….. ‐0.2 7.7 1.2 8.9 0.8 8.6
  Total (excl. gasoline stations) ……………… ‐0.6 5.6 1.0 7.3 1.4 6.8
  Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts &  
     gasoline stations) ……………………….……… ‐0.2
  6.7 0.8 7.8 1.6 7.5
     Retail ………………………..………..………….. ‐0.8
  5.4 1.3 7.4 0.4 6.9
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers ……………… ‐2.3 1.3 1.6 5.5 1.0 4.0
4411, 4412        Auto & other motor veh. dealers … ‐2.6
  0.5 1.9 5.2 0.9 3.4
442 Furniture & home furn. stores ……………… ‐2.6
  ‐3.2 2.0 0.4 ‐1.2 ‐1.3
443 Electronics & appliance stores …….……… ‐1.5
  ‐4.4 ‐0.9 ‐13.2 ‐3.9 ‐9.3
444 Building material & garden eq. &  
  supplies dealers………………………………… ‐2.5
  3.6 1.3 9.2 0.8 7.4  
445 Food & beverage stores………………………… 0.8 8.1 1.3 7.5 2.2 7.6
4451        Grocery stores …………………….…………. 0.8
  8.6 1.3 7.8 2.2 8.0
446 Health & personal care stores ……………… 0.7
  4.5 0.0 4.6 1.3 4.4
447 Gasoline stations ……………………..………… ‐0.1
  16.2 4.8 18.8 ‐4.9 17.8
448 Clothing & clothing accessories  
  stores ……………………….……………………..… ‐0.2
  0.7 0.0 3.9 1.4 3.0
451 Sporting goods, hobby, musical  
  instrument, & book stores ………………… ‐0.6
  1.8 0.7 4.5 0.5 3.6
452 General merchandise stores………………… ‐0.1 2.9 ‐0.3 2.7 1.0 3.2
4521        Department stores ………………………. ‐2.9
  ‐3.0 ‐2.5 ‐1.8 ‐1.0 ‐1.1
453 Miscellaneous store retailers ……….……… 0.5
  12.1 1.2 10.7 1.0 11.3
454 Nonstore retailers …………………….………… ‐0.9
  7.7 0.7 10.3 0.9 10.0
722 Food services & drinking places ………….. 0.9 14.1 1.6 14.2 3.8 13.7

(p)  Preliminary estimate         (r)   Revised estimate  
(1)  Estimates shown in this table are derived from adjusted estimates provided  in Table 1 of this report.
Source:  U.S. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey, December 15, 2022. Table 3 provides estimated measures of sampling variability.  
            Additional information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at  
            <www.census.gov/retail/how_surveys_are_collected.html>.
Table 3.   Estimated Measures of Sampling Variability and Revision to Advance Estimates Nov. 2022
(Estimates are shown as percents and are based on data from the Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey and Monthly Retail Trade Survey)
Median standard error Revision for month‐
Median Percent change to‐month change
NAICS Code Kind of Business CV Previous Mo. Previous Qtr. Current Mo.  Median
Current Mo. to to to same  Average absolute
(%) Current Mo. Current Qtr. Mo. Last Yr. revision revision
Retail & food services, 
  total ………………..………………………………… 0.8 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.2
  Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts) ……… 0.9 0.2 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.2
  Total (excl. gasoline stations) ……………… 0.9 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.3
  Total (excl. motor vehicle & parts &  
     gasoline stations) ……………………………… 1.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.3
  Retail, total …..…………………………………… 0.7 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.3
441 Motor vehicle & parts dealers ……………… 1.6 0.9 0.4 1.1 0.1 0.4
4411, 4412     Auto & other motor veh. dealers ……… 1.6 1.0 0.4 1.2 0.1 0.5
442 Furniture & home furn. stores……………… 2.5 1.0 0.7 1.6 0.2 0.9
443 Electronics & appliance stores ……………… 2.1 0.6 0.5 0.9 0.1 0.6
444 Building material & garden eq. &  
  supplies dealers………………………………… 2.5 0.7 0.5 1.1 ‐0.1 0.3
445 Food & beverage stores………………………… 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.4 0.1 0.2
4451        Grocery stores ………………………………. 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.2 0.1
446 Health & personal care stores ……………… 3.4 0.4 0.3 0.9 0.5 0.6
447 Gasoline stations ………………………………… 1.2 0.3 0.3 0.9 0.2 1.1
448 Clothing & clothing accessories  
  stores ………………………………………………… 2.6 0.9 0.7 1.4 0.1 0.4
451 Sporting goods, hobby, musical  
  instrument, & book stores ……………….. 2.7 0.7 0.9 1.6 0.0 0.2
452 General merchandise stores………………… 1.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2
4521        Department stores ………………………… 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.1
453 Miscellaneous store retailers ……………… 5.2 3.0 1.4 3.3 ‐0.3 2.3
454 Nonstore retailers ………………………………… 1.5 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.5 1.0
722 Food services & drinking places …………… 3.8 0.9 0.6 1.7 0.5 0.4
(1)  Estimated measures of sampling variability are based on estimates not adjusted for seasonal variation or holiday or trading day variation.  Medians are based 
       on estimates for the most recent 12 months. 

(2) These columns provide measures of the difference between the advance‐to‐preliminary and preliminary‐to‐final estimates of month‐to‐month change for the
      same pair of months as measured by the Advance sample and MRTS sample.  The average and median revisions are based on estimates for the most
      recent 12 months.
Source:  U.S. Census Bureau, Advance Monthly Retail Trade Survey, December 15, 2022. Additional information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, 
          nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at <www.census.gov/retail/how_surveys_are_collected.html>.