Wholesaler Sales Rose 0.6% in January, Up 9.9% YOY

Washington, DC, April 7, 2017—February 2017 sales of merchant wholesalers were $464.9 billion, up 0.6% from the revised January level and were up 9.9% from the February 2016 level, reports the U.S. Census Bureau.

The December 2016 to January 2017 percent change was revised1 from down 0.1% to up 0.3%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $594.2 billion at the end of February, up 0.4% from the revised January level. Total inventories are up 3.2% from the revised February 2016 level. The January 2017 to February 2017 percent change was unrevised from the advance estimate of up 0.4%.

The February inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.28. The February 2016 ratio was 1.36.