Merchant Wholesaler Sales Rose 0.2% in September

Washington, DC, November 9, 2016—September 2016 sales of merchant wholesalers were $444.9 billion, up 0.2% from the revised August level and were up 0.4% from the September 2015 level, the U.S. Census Bureau has announced.

The July 2016 to August 2016 percent change was unrevised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.7%. September sales of durable goods were up 0.2% from last month and were up 0.2% from a year ago.

Sales of electrical and electronic goods were up 1.5% from August, while sales of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies were down 2.4%. Sales of nondurable goods were up 0.1% from August and were up 0.5% from last September. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were up 5.0% from last month, while sales of farm product raw materials were down 12.0%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $590.2 billion at the end of September, up 0.1% from the revised August level. Total inventories are down 0.1% from the revised September 2015 level. The August 2016 to September 2016 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.2% to up 0.1%. September inventories of durable goods were down 0.4% from last month and were down 1.9% from a year ago. Inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were down 1.7% from last month. Inventories of nondurable goods were up 0.9% from August and were up 2.7% from last September. Inventories of petroleum and petroleum products were up 3.8% from last month and inventories of drugs and druggists' sundries were up 3.3%.

The September inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.33. The September 2015 ratio was 1.33.