Wholesaler Sales Up 1.2% in December, Up 9.1% YOY

Washington, DC, February 9, 2018-December 2017 sales of merchant wholesalers were $500.2 billion, up 1.2% from the revised November level and were up 9.1% from the December 2016 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The October 2017 to November 2017 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 1.5% to up 1.9%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $612.1 billion at the end of December, up 0.4% from the revised November level. Total inventories were up 3.4% from the revised December 2016 level. The November 2017 to December 2017 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.2% to up 0.4%.

The December inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.22. The December 2016 ratio was 1.29.