Merchant Wholesaler Sales Rose 8.4% YOY in January

Washington, DC, March 8, 2017—January 2017 sales of merchant wholesalers were $463.6 billion, down 0.1% from the revised December level, but were up 8.4% from the January 2016 level, the U.S. Census Bureau reports.

The November 2016 to December 2016 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 2.6% to up 2.4%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $600.0 billion at the end of January, down 0.2% from the revised December level. Total inventories are up 2.2% from the revised January 2016 level. The December 2016 to January 2017 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of down 0.1% to down 0.2%.

The January inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.29. The January 2016 ratio was 1.37.