Wholesaler Sales Rose 6.7% YOY in January

Washington, DC, March 9, 2018-January 2018 sales of merchant wholesalers were $492.6 billion, down 1.1% from the revised December level, but were up 6.7% from the January 2017 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The November 2017 to December 2017 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 1.2% to up 0.8%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $619.1 billion at the end of January, up 0.8% from the revised December level. Total inventories were up 4.8% from the revised January 2017 level. The December 2017 to January 2018 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.7% to up 0.8%.

The January inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.26. The January 2017 ratio was 1.28.