September 2006 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, were $330.2 billion, down 1.2 percent from the revised August level, but were up 8.1 percent from the September 2005 level. September sales of durable goods decreased 0.3 percent from last month, but were up 9.0 percent from a year ago. Compared to last month, sales of lumber and other construction materials were down 4.0 percent, while sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, increased 2.6 percent. September sales of nondurable goods were down 2.0 percent from last month, but were up 7.3 percent from last year. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products decreased 7.1 percent from last month.
Inventories. Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $390.3 billion at the end of September, up 0.8 percent from last month and were up 9.9 percent from a year ago. The August preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.4 billion or 0.1 percent. End-of-month inventories of durable goods increased 1.5 percent from August and were up 11.7 percent from last September.
End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods decreased 0.4 percent from August, but were up 6.8 percent compared to last September. Inventories of drugs and druggists’ sundries decreased 3.1 percent from last month, while inventories of petroleum and petroleum products were up 2.4 percent.
Inventories/Sales Ratio. The September inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.18. The September 2005 ratio was 1.16.
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