Wholesaler Sales Rose 6.8% YOY in October

Washington, DC, December 7, 2018-October 2018 sales of merchant wholesalers were $510.1 billion, down 0.2% from the revised September level but up 6.8% from the October 2017 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The August 2018 to September 2018 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.2% to up 0.1%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $652.1 billion at the end of October, up 0.8% from the revised September level. Total inventories were up 6.9% from the revised October 2017 level. The September 2018 to October 2018 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.7% to up 0.8%.

The October inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.28. The October 2017 ratio was 1.28.