Distributive Trade Sales & Manu. Shipments Rose 2.1% YOY

Washington, DC, March 11, 2019-The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for December was estimated at $1,445.0 billion, down 1.0% from November 2018 but was up 2.1% from December 2017, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Manufacturers’ and trade inventories were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,994.5 billion, up 0.6% from November 2018 and were up 4.8% from December 2017.

The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of December was 1.38. The December 2017 ratio was 1.34.