Wholesaler Sales Rose 7.3% YOY in March

Washington, DC, May 9, 2018-March 2018 sales of merchant wholesalers were $497.9 billion, up 0.3% from the revised February level and were up 7.3% from the March 2017 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The January 2018 to February 2018 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 1.0% to up 1.1%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $627.4 billion at the end of March, up 0.3% from the revised February level. Total inventories were up 5.5% from the revised March 2017 level. The February 2018 to March 2018 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.5% to up 0.3%.

The March inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.26. The March 2017 ratio was 1.28.