Distributive Trade Sales Up 0.3% in March

Washington, DC, May 13, 2016— The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments for March was estimated at $1,289.2 billion, up 0.3% from February 2016 but down 1.7% from March 2015, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Manufacturers’ and trade inventories were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,818.6 billion, up 0.4% from February 2016 and were up 1.5% from March 2015.

The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of March was 1.41. The March 2015 ratio was 1.37.