Sales
March 2002 sales of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences but not for price changes, were $224.6 billion, down 0.1 percent (+/-0.5%) from the revised February level, and were down 1.7 percent (+/-1.5%) from the March 2001 level. The February preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.1 billion or 0.03 percent. March sales of durable goods decreased 1.0 percent (+/-0.8%) from last month, and were 4.7 percent (+/-2.4%) below a year ago. Compared to last month, sales of lumber and other construction materials were down 2.0 percent and motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies decreased 1.6 percent. March sales of nondurable goods increased 0.8 percent (+/-0.7%) from February, and were up 1.5 percent (+/-1.8%) from last year. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products increased 10.9 percent from last month, while chemicals and allied products fell 4.5 percent.Inventories
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $284.4 billion at the end of March, virtually unchanged (+/-0.3%) from last month, but were down 6.1 percent(+/-2.3%) from a year ago. The February preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent. End-of-month inventories of durable goods were down 0.5 percent (+/-0.4%) from February and decreased 11.3 percent (+/-2.1%) from last March. Compared to last month, inventories of computer and computer peripheral equipment and supplies increased 1.9 percent, while furniture and home furnishings decreased 1.8 percent. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods increased 0.8 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month and were 2.8 percent (+/-4.7%) above a year ago. Petroleum and petroleum products increased 3.4 percent from last month, while paper and paper products declined 1.8 percent.Inventories/Sales Ratio
The March inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.27. The March 2001 ratio was 1.33. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- March (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.
Table 1A - Adjusted Estimated Monthly Sales Table 1B - Unadjusted Estimated Monthly Sales Table 2A - Adjusted Percent Changes Table 2B - Unadjusted Percent Changes
TABLE 1A. ADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2002 AND 2001
(In Millions of dollars) 2002 2002 2001 NAICS Kind of business Mar(p) Feb(r) Mar(r) code Sales, Total....................................... 224557 224738 228370 421 Durable Goods....................................... 111300 112412 116747 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 17313 17591 17012 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3514 3498 3789 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6808 6946 5956 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 21269 21288 22376 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 11086 11256 12441 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7079 7075 7769 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 17366 17438 18962 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5442 5485 5314 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 19550 19643 21895 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 12959 13448 13674 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 113257 112326 111623 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6077 6165 6607 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 18290 17965 15069 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 6926 6827 6502 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 35061 35088 33184 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 8286 8491 9547 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 4725 4949 5093 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 13637 12296 15143 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6534 6462 5789 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 13721 14083 14689 Inventories, Total.................................. 284444 284508 303029 421 Durable Goods....................................... 170249 171179 191939 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 23051 23296 25594 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5200 5297 5892 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6671 6683 6636 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22758 22632 26303 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 8174 8018 10557 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 12033 12145 13760 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 23447 23551 29627 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10219 10210 10607 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 46797 47236 50926 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 20073 20129 22594 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 114195 113329 111090 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6043 6153 6951 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 28336 28005 23081 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 12556 12609 13316 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 21420 21204 21591 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 10288 10124 10522 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6099 6109 6040 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4829 4669 4218 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6553 6469 6401 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 18071 17987 18970 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.27 1.27 1.33 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.53 1.52 1.64 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.33 1.32 1.50 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.48 1.51 1.56 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 0.98 0.96 1.11 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.07 1.06 1.18 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.74 0.71 0.85 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.70 1.72 1.77 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.35 1.35 1.56 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.88 1.86 2.00 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.39 2.40 2.33 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.55 1.50 1.65 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 1.01 1.01 1.00 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.99 1.00 1.05 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.55 1.56 1.53 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.81 1.85 2.05 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.61 0.60 0.65 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.24 1.19 1.10 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.29 1.23 1.19 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.35 0.38 0.28 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 1.00 1.00 1.11 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.32 1.28 1.29 (r) REVISED. (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-FEBRUARY 2002. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- March (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.TABLE 2A. PERCENT CHANGES IN SALES AND INVENTORIES OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS
ADJUSTED(1) INVENTORIES, SALES END-OF-MONTH (AT COST) NAICS Kind of business code Mar Feb Mar Mar Feb Mar 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 from from from from from from Feb Jan Mar Feb Jan Mar 2002 2002 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. -0.1 0.8 -1.7 0.0 -0.9 -6.1 421 Durable Goods....................................... -1.0 0.7 -4.7 -0.5 -1.1 -11.3 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... -1.6 2.0 1.8 -1.1 -1.6 -9.9 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 0.5 -2.0 -7.3 -1.8 -0.1 -11.7 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. -2.0 4.1 14.3 -0.2 -0.6 0.5 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... -0.1 -0.9 -4.9 0.6 -1.3 -13.5 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. -1.5 -2.2 -10.9 1.9 0.7 -22.6 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 0.1 -0.7 -8.9 -0.9 -0.3 -12.6 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... -0.4 1.2 -8.4 -0.4 -1.2 -20.9 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. -0.8 1.4 2.4 0.1 -0.9 -3.7 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... -0.5 -0.6 -10.7 -0.9 -1.2 -8.1 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ -3.6 2.5 -5.2 -0.3 -0.7 -11.2 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.8 0.8 1.5 0.8 -0.5 2.8 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... -1.4 -0.4 -8.0 -1.8 -1.4 -13.1 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.8 2.8 21.4 1.2 -0.1 22.8 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.5 3.0 6.5 -0.4 -1.2 -5.7 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... -0.1 1.6 5.7 1.0 -0.9 -0.8 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. -2.4 -0.7 -13.2 1.6 1.5 -2.2 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... -4.5 0.3 -7.2 -0.2 -0.3 1.0 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 10.9 -2.8 -9.9 3.4 0.8 14.5 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 1.1 4.2 12.9 1.3 -1.5 2.4 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... -2.6 -1.2 -6.6 0.5 -1.2 -4.7 (1) ADJUSTED FOR SEASONAL VARIATION AND, IN THE CASE OF SALES, ALSO FOR TRADING-DAY DIFFERENCES. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- March (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.TABLE 1B. UNADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2002 AND 2001
(In Millions of dollars) 2002 2002 2001 2002 2001 NAICS Kind of business Mar(p) Feb(r) Mar(r) CUM CUM code Sales, Total....................................... 227802 205623 239021 648918 675612 421 Durable Goods....................................... 114017 102078 123440 321042 340859 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 18196 15867 18203 49958 48825 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3503 3141 3944 9949 10868 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6658 5960 6016 18561 16343 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 21971 19095 23987 61370 65914 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 11541 9962 13362 32364 37143 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7235 6672 8188 21061 23742 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 17818 15973 19967 50231 56063 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5431 5030 5404 15617 15371 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 20078 17914 23428 56610 63830 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 13127 12426 14303 37685 39903 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 113785 103545 115581 327876 334753 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6053 5666 6733 17933 19612 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 18253 16725 15551 53547 45854 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 7646 6991 7445 21084 21257 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 35096 31649 34213 100072 95775 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 8369 8279 9929 26212 29638 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 4782 4692 5312 14428 15135 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 13610 11325 15173 37854 48299 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6214 5318 5743 16599 15818 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 13762 12900 15482 40147 43365 Inventories, Total.................................. 284273 285380 303130 421 Durable Goods....................................... 169565 170783 191262 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 23397 24088 26055 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5054 5186 5727 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6858 6650 6815 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22417 22541 25961 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 7929 7994 10251 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 11973 12133 13719 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 22908 23339 29005 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10229 10149 10628 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 47078 46669 51232 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 19651 20028 22120 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 114708 114597 111868 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6007 6091 6937 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 28138 27501 22989 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 12016 12571 12757 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 21163 20716 21332 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 11111 11673 11353 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6129 6103 6076 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4776 4627 4163 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6448 6249 6286 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 18920 19066 19975 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.25 1.39 1.27 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.49 1.67 1.55 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.29 1.52 1.43 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.44 1.65 1.45 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 1.03 1.12 1.13 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.02 1.18 1.08 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.69 0.80 0.77 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.65 1.82 1.68 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.29 1.46 1.45 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.88 2.02 1.97 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.34 2.61 2.19 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.50 1.61 1.55 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 1.01 1.11 0.97 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.99 1.08 1.03 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.54 1.64 1.48 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.57 1.80 1.71 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.60 0.65 0.62 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.33 1.41 1.14 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.28 1.30 1.14 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.35 0.41 0.27 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 1.04 1.18 1.09 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.37 1.48 1.29 (r) REVISED. (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-FEBRUARY 2002. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- March (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.TABLE 2B. PERCENT CHANGES IN SALES AND INVENTORIES OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS
UNADJUSTED INVENTORIES, SALES END-OF-MONTH (AT COST) NAICS Kind of business code 03 Months Mar Feb Mar 2002 Mar Feb Mar 2002 2002 2002 from 2002 2002 2002 from from from 03 from from from Feb Jan Mar Months Feb Jan Mar 2002 2002 2001 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. 10.8 -4.6 -4.7 -4.0 -0.4 -1.8 -6.2 421 Durable Goods....................................... 11.7 -2.7 -7.6 -5.8 -0.7 -0.6 -11.3 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 14.7 -0.2 -0.0 2.3 -2.9 0.7 -10.2 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 11.5 -5.0 -11.2 -8.5 -2.5 -0.2 -11.8 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 11.7 0.3 10.7 13.6 3.1 0.4 0.6 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 15.1 -6.0 -8.4 -6.9 -0.6 -2.2 -13.7 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 15.9 -8.3 -13.6 -12.9 -0.8 -0.6 -22.7 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 8.4 -6.7 -11.6 -11.3 -1.3 -0.2 -12.7 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 11.6 -2.8 -10.8 -10.4 -1.8 -1.8 -21.0 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 8.0 -2.4 0.5 1.6 0.8 -0.1 -3.8 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 12.1 -3.8 -14.3 -11.3 0.9 -0.0 -8.1 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 5.6 2.4 -8.2 -5.6 -1.9 -0.9 -11.2 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 9.9 -6.3 -1.6 -2.1 0.1 -3.5 2.5 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6.8 -8.8 -10.1 -8.6 -1.4 -2.2 -13.4 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 9.1 -9.9 17.4 16.8 2.3 -7.2 22.4 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 9.4 8.4 2.7 -0.8 -4.4 -4.5 -5.8 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 10.9 -5.0 2.6 4.5 2.2 -2.9 -0.8 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.1 -13.4 -15.7 -11.6 -4.8 -5.6 -2.1 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.9 -5.3 -10.0 -4.7 0.4 0.7 0.9 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 20.2 -12.3 -10.3 -21.6 3.2 -0.1 14.7 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 16.8 5.0 8.2 4.9 3.2 0.7 2.6 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 6.7 -4.3 -11.1 -7.4 -0.8 -0.2 -5.3SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- March (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.
