Wholesale trade revenues in March were $414.7 billion, down 1.6 percent from the revised February level, but up 1.3 percent from March 2012. The February preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.9 billion or 0.2 percent.
March sales of durable goods were down 0.6 percent from last month, but up 1.7 percent from a year ago. Sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were down 2.5 percent from last month.
Sales of nondurable goods were down 2.5 percent from February, but were up 1 percent from last March. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were down 7.5 percent from last month and sales of apparel, piece goods and notions were down 5.5 percent.
Total inventories were $503.1 billion at the end of March, up 0.4 percent from the revised February level and were up 4.7 percent from the March 2012 level.
March inventories of durable goods were up 0.5 percent from last month and were up 7.2 percent from a year ago. Inventories of hardware, and plumbing and heating equipment and supplies were up 2.1 percent from last month and inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 1.2 percent.
Inventories of nondurable goods were up 0.1 percent from February and up 1.2 percent from last March. Inventories of apparel, piece goods and notions were up 1.7 percent from last month, while inventories of petroleum and petroleum products were down 3.4 percent.
The March inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, was 1.21. The March 2012 ratio was 1.17.
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