Merchant Sales Inched Up in May

Washington, DC, July 10, 2019-May 2019 sales of merchant were $503.4 billion, up 0.1% from the revised April level and were up 0.4% from the May 2018 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The March 2019 to April 2019 percent change was unrevised from the preliminary estimate of down 0.4%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $678.1 billion at the end of May, up 0.4% from the revised April level. Total inventories were up 7.7% from the revised May 2018 level. The April 2019 to May 2019 percent change was unrevised from the advance estimate of up 0.4%.

The May inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.35. The May 2018 ratio was 1.26.