Wholesaler Sales Rose by 0.7% in August

Washington, DC, October 7, 2016—August 2016 sales of merchant wholesalers were $444.3 billion, up 0.7% from the revised July level and were up 0.6% from the August 2015 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The June 2016 to July 2016 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of down 0.4% to down 0.6%.

August sales of durable goods were down 0.5% from last month, but were up 0.7% from a year ago.

Sales of machinery, equipment, and supplies were down 2.7% from July.

Sales of nondurable goods were up 2.0% from July and were up 0.5% from last August. Sales of farm product raw materials were up 6.7% from last month and sales of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages were up 2.2%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $589.1 billion at the end of August, down 0.2% from the revised July level. Total inventories are down 0.1% from the revised August 2015 level.

The July 2016 to August 2016 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of down 0.1% to down 0.2%.

August inventories of durable goods were up 0.2% from last month, but were down 1.9% from a year ago.

Inventories of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software were up 1.9% from last month. Inventories of nondurable goods were down 0.7% from July, but were up 2.8% from last August. Inventories of farm product raw materials were down 7.8% from last month and inventories of apparel, piece goods, and notions were down 2.1%.

The August inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.33. The August 2015 ratio was 1.34.