The U.S. Census Bureau released its monthly wholesale trade report on June 8 for April, showing that industry sales narrowly ticked up month-to-month, with a healthier increase year-over-year.Â
The figures showed that April 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 $663.8 billion. That was up 0.1% from the revised March level and up 1.4% from the revised April 2023 level. Â
Here’s how April U.S. merchant wholesaler sales fared in durable goods categories:Â
| Category & April ‘24 Total | vs. March | vs. April‘23 |
| Automotive, $52.90BÂ | +1.1%Â | +9.0%Â |
| Furniture, $8.71BÂ | +2.0%Â | -0.9%Â |
| Lumber, $17.65BÂ | -1.5%Â | -1.9%Â |
| Professional Equipment, $50.30BÂ | +2.3%Â | +4.8%Â |
| Computer Equipment, $23.92BÂ | +2.6%Â | +2.4%Â |
| Metals, $18.17BÂ | +0.7%Â | -10.6%Â |
| Electrical, $68.72BÂ | +0.1%Â | +4.1%Â |
| Hardware, $19.78BÂ | +0.8%Â | +3.8%Â |
| Machinery, $51.34BÂ | -0.8%Â | 0.0%Â |
| Miscellaneous, $26.22BÂ | -2.8%Â | -4.3%Â |
InventoriesÂ
The report showed that total inventories for merchant wholesalers ended April at $895.8 billion, up 0.1% from March’s revised mark, and down 1.7% year-over-year.Â
Inventories/Sales RatioÂ
The April inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers was 1.35, up from March’s 1.34 and down from April 2023’s 1.39.Â
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