Distributive Trade Sales & Manufacturers Shipments Up 0.2% in May

Washington, DC, July 15, 2016—The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for May was estimated at $1,291.8 billion, up 0.2% from April 2016, but was down 1.4% from May 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

Manufacturers’ and trade inventories were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,810.0 billion, up 0.2% from April 2016 and were up 1.0% from May 2015.

The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of May was 1.40. The May 2015 ratio was 1.37.