Merchant Wholesaler Sales & Inventories Both Up in September

Washington, DC, November 10, 2015—September 2015 sales of merchant wholesalers were $448.0 billion, up 0.5% from the revised August level but down 3.9% from the September 2014 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The August preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.5 billion or 0.1%. September sales of durable goods were up 0.7% from last month but down 0.8% from a year ago.

Sales of nondurable goods were up 0.3% from August but down 6.7% from last September.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $588.1 billion at the end of September, up 0.5% from the revised August level and up 4.7% from the September 2014 level. The August preliminary estimate was revised upward $1.3 billion or 0.2%.

September inventories of durable goods were down 0.4% from last month, but were up 2.8% from a year ago.

Inventories of nondurable goods were up 1.9% from August and were up 7.7% from last September.