Merchant Wholesaler Sales Rose 9.2% YOY in August

Washington, DC, October 10, 2018-August 2018 sales of merchant wholesalers were $511.1 billion, up 0.8% from the revised July level and were up 9.2% from the August 2017 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The June 2018 to July 2018 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of virtually unchanged to up 0.2%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $642.7 billion at the end of August, up 1.0% from the revised July level. Total inventories were up 5.3% from the revised August 2017 level. The July 2018 to August 2018 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.8% to up 1.0%.

The August inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.26. The August 2017 ratio was 1.30.