November 2018 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 $505.3 billion, down 0.6 percent from the revised October level, but were up 4 percent from the November 2017 level, according to the latest report by the U.S. Census Bureau. The September 2018 to October 2018 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimated decrease of 0.2 percent to a decrease of 0.6 percent.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $654 billion at the end of November, up 0.3 percent from the revised October level. Total inventories were up 6.5 percent from the revised November 2017 level. 

The November inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.29. The November 2017 ratio was 1.26. 

Intention to Revise

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Monthly Wholesale sales, inventories and inventories/sales ratios will be revised based on the results of the 2017 Annual Wholesale Trade Survey. 

“We are working on an updated release schedule for the delayed Monthly Wholesale Trade Reports. The publication date of the annual revisions for the revised not adjusted and corresponding seasonally adjusted estimates will be announced when available.”