Distributive Trade Sales & Manufacturers' Shipments Flat in September

Washington, DC, November 13, 2015— The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for September was estimated at $1,320.3 billion, virtually unchanged from August 2015 but down 2.8% from September 2014, according to The U.S. Census Bureau.

Manufacturers’ and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,817.5 billion, up 0.3% from August 2015 and up 2.5% from September 2014.

The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of September was 1.38. The September 2014 ratio was 1.31.