Merchant Wholesaler Sales Rose 2.6% in December

Washington, DC, February 9, 2017—December 2016 sales of merchant wholesalers were $464.9 billion, up 2.6% from the revised November level and were up 6.8% from the December 2015 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The October 2016 to November 2016 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.4% to up 0.5%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $601.1 billion at the end of December, up 1.0% from the revised November level. Total inventories are up 2.6% from the revised December 2015 level.

The November 2016 to December 2016 percent change was unrevised from the advance estimate of up 1.0%.

The December inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers was 1.29. The December 2015 ratio was 1.35.