CENSUS RADIO BROADCAST SERVICE

     Edition #152--For Air Beginning Week of March 20, 1995
     

The Christmas Holidays Good for 
                    Retailers, Runs 1:14

DONALDSON:  Among the many traditions of the Christmas season is
the sound that is music to the ears of the nation's retailers--the
chimes and jingles of the cash register.  Last December, the
merchants got a pleasant earful of their favorite tune.  The Census
Bureau's Ron Piencykoski reports on the shopping spirit of
Christmas past.

PIENCYKOSKI:  The total retail sales were up about 5 percent.  And
this compares to the Christmas season of 1993, when sales were only
up about 4 percent.  However, it wasn't quite as good as the
Christmas season of 1992, when sales were actually up 7 percent. 

DONALDSON:  The retail figures, which exclude automotive goods,
reveal areas of strength and weakness.

PIENCYKOSKI:  The sales of the furniture group--which includes
computers and big-screen TV's--they were the strongest of all of
the categories, and they were up about 12 percent.  Apparel sales
were only up about 3 percent.

DONALDSON:  Piencykoski adds that department stores enjoyed a
Christmas boom, with sales up a seasonally adjusted 7 percent over
1993's holiday volume.  This is Lyn Donaldson reporting.