Wholesaler Sales Rose 2.3% in March

Washington, DC, May 9, 2019-March 2019 sales of merchant wholesalers were $507.4 billion, up 2.3% from the revised February level and were up 3.9% from the March 2018 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The January 2019 to February 2019 percent change was unrevised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.3%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $669.8 billion at the end of March, down 0.1% from the revised February level. Total inventories were up 6.7% from the revised March 2018 level. The February 2019 to March 2019 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of virtually unchanged to down 0.1%.

The March inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.32. The March 2018 ratio was 1.29.