July Merchant Wholesaler Sales Up 9.8% YOY

Washington, DC, September 11, 2018-July 2018 sales of merchant wholesalers were $505.6 billion, virtually unchanged from the revised June level, but were up 9.8% from the July 2017 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The May 2018 to June 2018 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of down 0.1% to down 0.2%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $636.3 billion at the end of July, up 0.6% from the revised June level. Total inventories were up 5.0% from the revised July 2017 level. The June 2018 to July 2018 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.7% to up 0.6%.

The July inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.26. The July 2017 ratio was 1.32.