Research >> Economics
Wholesale Inventories up 0.8% in July
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The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that July 2011 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences but not for price changes, were $396.0 billion, virtually unchanged (+/-0.5) from the revised June level, but were up 14.4 percent (+/-1.1%) from the July 2010 level. The June preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.2 billion. July sales of durable goods were up 1.4 percent (+/-0.5%) from last month and were up 11.7 percent (+/-1.4%) from a year ago. Sales of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 5.3 percent from last month and sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum were up 3.6 percent. Sales of nondurable goods were down 1.1 percent (+/-0.9%) from last month, but were up 16.7 percent (+/-1.8%) from last year. Sales of farm product raw materials were down 6.7 percent from last month and sales of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages were down 2.8 percent.
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $462.4 billion at the end of July, up 0.8 percent (+/-0.4%) from the revised June level and were up 15.1 percent (+/-1.1%) from a year ago. The June preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.2 billion. End-of-month inventories of durable goods were up 1.0 percent (+/-0.5%) from last month and were up 12.0 percent (+/-1.4%) from last July. Inventories of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software were up 3.7 percent and inventories of machinery, equipment, and supplies were up 1.3 percent. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods were up 0.5 percent (+/-0.5%) from June and were up 19.6 percent (+/-1.9%) compared to last July. Inventories of apparel, piece goods, and notions were up 2.9 percent and inventories of chemicals and allied products were up 2.3 percent.
The June inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.17. The July 2010 ratio was 1.16.
Posted: September 9, 2011 Friday 10:00 AM