Grainger — No. 3 on Industrial Distribution's 2016 Big 50 List — reported its November 2016 sales report on Tuesday, which showed year-over-year daily sales declines of 3 percent overall and in the U.S.
Grainger said November's overall results were driven by a 1 percentage point decline in volume, a 1 point decline in price and a 1 point decline from lower sales of seasonal products. November had one more selling day than in 2015. The company said the U.S. decline was driven by a 2 point decline in volume, a 1-point decline in price and a 1-point decline from lower sales of seasonal products, partially offset by a 1-point contribution from intercompany sales to its Zoro single-channel.
Here's how Grainger's total and U.S. daily sales growth has looked by month so far in 2016:
| 2016 Month | Total Daily Sales Growth | U.S. Daily Sales Growth |
| November | -3.0% | -3.0% |
| October | Flat (no % given) | -1.0% |
| September | +0.1% | -0.5% |
| August | +4.0% | +0.5% |
| July | +3.3% | -2.0% |
| June | +0.1% | -3.4% |
| May | +1.2% | -2.9% |
| April | +3.6% | -1.5% |
| March | -1.1% | -4.6% |
| February | +0.6% | -1.4% |
| January | +4.3% | +0.9% |
November marked the ninth month out of 11 so far in 2016 that U.S. daily sales declined year-over-year. Canada November sales were down 17 percent and Other Businesses were up 6 percent.
U.S. sales by performance by end market was as follows:
- Government, Retail and Light Manufacturing: Up in low-single digits
- Commercial: Down in low single digits
- Heavy Manufacturing: Down in mid-single digits
- Contractors: Down in high-single digits
- Resellers and Natural Resources: Down in low-double digits
Grainger said the 17 percent Canada decline was driven by a 13 percentage point decline in volume and a 4-point decline in price. Daily sales to all customer end markets were down.
In its Other Businesses segment, Grainger said the 6 percent daily sales increase was driven by a 7-point increase in volume and a 1-point decline from foreign exchange. It's single-channel business grew in the low 20s, led by MonotaRO in Japan and Zoro in the U.S., partially offset by declines from Cromwell and Fabory and currency headwinds.
Grainger said December daily sales are currently trending better than November's.
