May 2008 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’sales branches and offices, were $397.4 billion, up 1.6% from April and up 13.7% from May 2007, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The April preliminary estimate was revised upward 0.2%. May sales of durable goods were down 0.2% from last month, but were up 7.6% from a year ago.
 
Compared to last month, furniture and home furnishings were down 4.0%, while sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum were up 2.9%. Sales of nondurable goods were up 3.2% (+/-0.8%) from last month and were up 19.2% from last year. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were up 7.5% from last month and sales of apparel, piece goods, and notions were up 5.2%.
 
Inventories
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $431.0 billion at the end of May, up 0.8% from the revised April level and were up 8.7% from a year ago. The April preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.2 billion.
 
End-of-month inventories of durable goods were up 0.8% from last month and were up 5.6% from last May. Inventories of computer and computer peripheral equipment and supplies, were up 3.5% from last month and inventories of metals and minerals, except petroleum were up 2.7%. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods increased 0.7% from April and were up 14.2% compared to last May. Inventories of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages, were up 3.0% from last month and inventories of drugs and druggists’ sundries were up 1.2%.
 
Inventories/Sales Ratio
The May inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.08. The May 2007 ratio was 1.13.
 
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