Wholesale Sales and Inventories Up

Washington, DC, April 6, 2007–Whole inventories in February increased 0.05%, while wholesales rose 1.2%, according to a Commerce Department report. 

Year-over-year wholesale sales are up 7.1%, inventories are up 8.3% from a year ago.

February’s inventory gains came after a revised 0.6% gain in January.

Sales of groceries climbed 2.8% in February, while apparel sales rose 3.3%.

Sales of durable goods fell 0.8% in February, the lowest level since September 2004. Inventories of durable goods rose 0.3%.

Sales of nondurable goods rose by 3.2%, the most since September 2005. Inventories of nondurable goods rose by 0.9% in February.

February’s inventory-to-sales ratio dropped to 1.15 from 1.16 in January.