Distributive Trade Sales & Manu. Shipments Rose 8.4% in May

Washington, DC, July 16, 2020-The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for May was estimated at $1,284.3 billion, up 8.4% from April 2020, but was down 11.8% from May 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Manufacturers’ and trade inventories for May were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,933.7 billion, down 2.3% from April 2020 and were down 4.8% from May 2019.

The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of May was 1.51. The May 2019 ratio was 1.40.