Wholesaler Sales Flat in August

Washington, DC, October 9, 2019-August 2019 sales of merchant wholesalers were $499.1 billion, virtually unchanged from the revised July level, but were down 0.7% from the August 2018 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The June 2019 to July 2019 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.3% to up 0.2%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $680.7 billion at the end of August, up 0.2% from the revised July level. Total inventories were up 6.2% from the revised August 2018 level. The July 2019 to August 2019 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.4% to up 0.2%.

The August inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.36. The August 2018 ratio was 1.28.