Merchant Wholesaler Sales & Inventories Down in July

Washington, DC, September 10, 2015—July 2015 sales of merchant wholesalers were $449.5 billion, down 0.3% from the revised June level and down 4.2% from the July 2014 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The June preliminary estimate was revised upward $1.0 billion or 0.2%.

July sales of durable goods were up 1.2% from last month and were up 0.2% from a year ago.

Sales of machinery, equipment, and supplies were up 5.2% from last month and sales of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software were up 3.2%.

Sales of nondurable goods were down 1.7% from June and were down 8.0% from last July.

Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were down 8.2% from last month and sales of farm product raw materials were down 2.2%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices were $584.3 billion at the end of July, down 0.1% from the revised June level but up 4.9% from the July 2014 level.

The June preliminary estimate was revised downward $1.2 billion or 0.2%.

July inventories of durable goods were up 0.1% from last month and were up 5.0% from a year ago.

Inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 1.0% from last month, while inventories of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were down 1.4%.

Inventories of nondurable goods were down 0.5% from June, but were up 4.8% from last July.

Inventories of petroleum and petroleum products were down 4.8% from last month and inventories of drugs and druggists' sundries were down 3.2%.