Wholesale revenues in October were $435.3 billion, up 1 percent from September and up 6.4 percent from October 2012, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The September preliminary estimate was revised upward $600 million or 0.1 percent.
October sales of durable goods were virtually unchanged from last month but were up 7.5 percent from a year ago. Sales of machinery, equipment and supplies were up 3.8 percent from last month, while sales of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were down 4.5 percent.
Sales of nondurable goods were up 1.8 percent from September and were up 5.5 percent from last October. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were up 3.6 percent from last month.
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $514.1 billion at the end of October, up 1.4 percent from the revised September level and up 3.3 percent from October 2012. The September preliminary estimate was revised upward $700 million or 0.1 percent.
October inventories of durable goods were up 0.4 percent from last month and were up 4.1 percent from a year ago. Inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 2.7 percent from last month, while inventories of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software were down 5.7 percent.
Inventories of nondurable goods were up 3 percent from September and were up 2.2 percent from last October. Inventories of farm product raw materials were up 17 percent from last month and inventories of drugs and druggists' sundries were up 3.6 percent.
The October inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers was 1.18. The October 2012 ratio was 1.22.