Distributive Trade Sales & Manufacturers’ Shipments Up in Dec.

Washington, DC, February 14, 2018-The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for December was estimated at $1,431.3 billion, up 0.6% from November 2017 and was up 6.7% from December 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Manufacturers’ and trade inventories were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,902.2 billion, up 0.4% from November 2017 and were up 3.2% from December 2016.

The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of December was 1.33. The December 2016 ratio was 1.37.