The U.S. Census Bureau announced Wednesday that September 2014 sales of merchant wholesalers were $454.3 billion, up 0.2 percent from the revised August level and were up 5.2 percent from the September 2013 level. The August preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.4 billion or 0.1 percent. September sales of durable goods were up 0.5 percent from last month and were up 5.4 percent from a year ago. Sales of hardware and plumbing and heating equipment and supplies were up 4.8 percent from last month and sales of lumber and other construction materials were up 1.8 percent. Sales of nondurable goods were down 0.1 percent from August, but were up 5.1 percent from last September. Sales of paper and paper products were down 2.6 percent from last month, while sales of apparel, piece goods, and notions were up 4.0 percent.
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $538.8 billion at the end of September, up 0.3 percent from the revised August level and were up 7.4 percent from the September 2013 level. The August preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.6 billion or 0.1 percent. September inventories of durable goods were up 0.8 percent from last month and were up 9.0 percent from a year ago. Inventories of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software were up 3.4 percent from last month and inventories of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were up 1.8 percent. Inventories of nondurable goods were were down 0.6 percent from August, but were up 4.9 percent from last September. Inventories of petroleum and petroleum products were down 5.3 percent from last month and inventories of farm product raw materials were down 3.0 percent.
The Septmber inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.19. The September 2013 ratio was 1.16.
