For Wire Transmission 10:00 a.m. ET May 7, 2004 CB04-72
MONTHLY WHOLESALE TRADE: SALES AND INVENTORIES
MARCH 2004
Sales
March 2004 sales of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences but not for price changes, were $266.2 billion, up 2.7 percent (+/-0.7%) from the revised February level, and were up 12.0 percent (+/-1.0%) from the March 2003 level. The February preliminary estimate was revised upward $2.1 billion or 0.8 percent. March sales of durable goods increased 3.9 percent (+/-1.0%) from last month, and were up 16.9 percent (+/-1.2%) from a year ago. Compared to last month, sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum increased 14.4 percent and sales of lumber and other construction materials were up 6.0 percent. March sales of nondurable goods increased 1.7 percent (+/-0.8%) from last month, and were up 7.6 percent (+/-1.7%) from last year. Sales of drugs and druggists’ sundries increased 2.7 percent from last month and sales of groceries and related products were up 2.6 percent.Inventories
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $301.6 billion at the end of March, up 0.6 percent (+/-0.5%) from last month, and increased 3.8 percent (+/-1.5%) from a year ago. The February preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.1 billion. End-of-month inventories of durable goods increased 0.9 percent (+/-0.5%) from February, and were up 3.9 percent (+/-0.8%) from last year. Inventories of metals and minerals, except petroleum increased 5.0 percent from last month and inventories of electrical goods, increased 1.7 percent. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-0.7%) from February, and were up 3.7 percent (+/-3.1%) from last year. Inventories of petroleum and petroleum products decreased 3.3 percent from last month and inventories of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages were down 1.7 percent.Inventories/Sales Ratio
The March inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.13. The March 2003 ratio was 1.22.
TABLE 1A. ADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2004 AND 2003 (Total sales and inventory estimates are shown in millions of dollars. Estimates are based on data from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey, Annual Wholesale Trade Survey, and administrative records. Except for NAICS code 4225, estimates have been adjusted using results of the most recent economic census.) 2004 2004 2003 NAICS Kind of business Mar(p) Feb(r) Mar(r) code Sales, Total....................................... 266213 259109 237727 421 Durable Goods....................................... 129881 125062 111079 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 19756 19495 18311 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 3981 3929 3647 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 9281 8754 6633 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22573 22376 20989 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 10382 10169 9053 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 10454 9142 7192 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 19502 19002 16882 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5924 5698 5443 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 22230 21256 18381 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 16180 15410 13601 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 136332 134047 126648 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6585 6513 6490 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 23457 22836 20844 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 7350 7430 7068 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 36032 35133 34418 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 12077 11920 9461 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5549 5449 5298 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 22735 22393 21728 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 7030 7161 6975 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 15517 15212 14366 Inventories, Total.................................. 301583 299712 290483 421 Durable Goods....................................... 181641 180047 174819 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 27012 26671 25302 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 5979 5935 5525 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 8902 8848 7486 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 24254 24430 24086 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 7353 7254 7414 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 16005 15248 13515 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 22862 22480 22430 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10345 10319 10635 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 44628 44930 45844 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 21654 21186 19996 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 119942 119665 115664 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6589 6533 6324 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 30899 30698 30913 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 12168 12035 12503 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 22379 22140 22090 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 13639 13274 9484 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5823 5870 6000 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4766 4927 4455 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 7411 7537 7504 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 16268 16651 16391 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.13 1.16 1.22 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.40 1.44 1.57 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.37 1.37 1.38 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 1.50 1.51 1.51 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 0.96 1.01 1.13 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.07 1.09 1.15 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.71 0.71 0.82 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.53 1.67 1.88 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.17 1.18 1.33 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.75 1.81 1.95 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.01 2.11 2.49 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.34 1.37 1.47 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.88 0.89 0.91 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 1.00 1.00 0.97 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.32 1.34 1.48 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.66 1.62 1.77 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.62 0.63 0.64 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.13 1.11 1.00 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.05 1.08 1.13 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.21 0.22 0.21 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 1.05 1.05 1.08 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.05 1.09 1.14 (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-DECEMBER 2003. (r) REVISED. Note: Estimates have not been adjusted for price changes. Information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at http://www/census.gov/svsd/www/mwtsreliability.html.
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 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 from from from from from from Feb Jan Mar Feb Jan Mar 2004 2004 2003 2004 2004 2003 TOTAL.............................................. 2.7 2.1 12.0 0.6 1.2 3.8 421 Durable Goods....................................... 3.9 3.0 16.9 0.9 1.2 3.9 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.3 5.8 7.9 1.3 1.6 6.8 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 1.3 -0.1 9.2 0.7 -1.4 8.2 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6.0 5.2 39.9 0.6 3.5 18.9 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 0.9 -0.2 7.5 -0.7 0.7 0.7 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 2.1 -1.0 14.7 1.4 0.4 -0.8 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 14.4 5.0 45.4 5.0 4.3 18.4 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 2.6 2.5 15.5 1.7 3.1 1.9 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 4.0 0.9 8.8 0.3 0.1 -2.7 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 4.6 4.4 20.9 -0.7 0.5 -2.7 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 5.0 2.2 19.0 2.2 -1.2 8.3 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 1.7 1.4 7.6 0.2 1.4 3.7 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 1.1 2.2 1.5 0.9 0.3 4.2 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 2.7 1.6 12.5 0.7 3.9 0.0 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... -1.1 3.3 4.0 1.1 1.4 -2.7 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 2.6 0.6 4.7 1.1 0.9 1.3 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.3 1.3 27.7 2.7 5.7 43.8 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.8 -1.2 4.7 -0.8 0.7 -3.0 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 1.5 3.1 4.6 -3.3 -1.9 7.0 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... -1.8 -2.7 0.8 -1.7 -1.2 -1.2 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 2.0 1.9 8.0 -2.3 -2.9 -0.8 (1) ADJUSTED FOR SEASONAL VARIATIONS AND, IN THE CASE OF SALES, ALSO TRADING-DAY DIFFERENCES.
TABLE 1B. UNADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2004 AND 2003 (Total sales and inventory estimates are shown in millions of dollars. Estimates are based on data from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey, Annual Wholesale Trade Survey, and administrative records. Except for NAICS code 4225, estimates have been adjusted using results of the most recent economic census.) 2004 2004 2003 2004 2003 NAICS Kind of business Mar(p) Feb(r) Mar(r) CUM CUM code Sales, Total....................................... 289493 240408 242813 768808 687451 421 Durable Goods....................................... 142724 114092 114461 367488 317385 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 21929 17955 19098 56324 51781 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 4244 3575 3680 11396 10335 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 10023 7590 6606 24885 18471 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 24943 20161 21850 65603 59929 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 11534 9030 9497 29992 26028 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 11395 8804 7271 28554 20995 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 21316 17558 17388 55996 48528 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 6374 5140 5459 16739 15485 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 24653 19024 18896 62020 52511 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 17847 14285 14213 45971 39350 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 146769 126316 128352 401320 370066 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 7151 6051 6535 19324 18928 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 25521 21169 20844 68961 60748 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 8578 7601 7676 22693 21772 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 37978 32041 35072 103081 99100 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 13055 11622 9376 37556 30766 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6060 5160 5415 16700 15552 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 24145 21945 21641 68056 62197 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 7135 5987 6536 18841 17663 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 17146 14740 15257 46108 43340 Inventories, Total.................................. 304196 302535 292191 421 Durable Goods....................................... 182605 180740 175404 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 27795 27578 25985 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 5853 5840 5398 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 9285 8954 7785 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 23866 24381 23652 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 7191 7094 7214 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 16149 15233 13583 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 22428 22233 22004 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10490 10360 10763 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 45431 44975 46578 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 21308 21186 19656 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 121591 121795 116787 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6569 6474 6292 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 31332 30238 31315 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 11657 11854 11953 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 22357 21830 22024 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 14989 15584 10376 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5829 5882 6012 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4714 5050 4419 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 7307 7266 7399 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 16837 17617 16997 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.05 1.26 1.20 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.28 1.58 1.53 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.27 1.54 1.36 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 1.38 1.63 1.47 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 0.93 1.18 1.18 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 0.96 1.21 1.08 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.62 0.79 0.76 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.42 1.73 1.87 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.05 1.27 1.27 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.65 2.02 1.97 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 1.84 2.36 2.46 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.19 1.48 1.38 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.83 0.96 0.91 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.92 1.07 0.96 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.23 1.43 1.50 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.36 1.56 1.56 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.59 0.68 0.63 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.15 1.34 1.11 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 0.96 1.14 1.11 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.20 0.23 0.20 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 1.02 1.21 1.13 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 0.98 1.20 1.11 (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-DECEMBER 2003. (r) REVISED. Note: Estimates have not been adjusted for price changes. Information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at http://www/census.gov/svsd/www/mwtsreliability.html.
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 2004 Mar Feb Mar 2004 2004 2004 from 2004 2004 2004 from from from 03 from from from Feb Jan Mar Months Feb Jan Mar 2004 2004 2003 2003 2004 2004 2003 TOTAL.............................................. 20.4 0.6 19.2 11.8 0.5 0.7 4.1 421 Durable Goods....................................... 25.1 3.1 24.7 15.8 1.0 2.2 4.1 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 22.1 9.2 14.8 8.8 0.8 4.2 7.0 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 18.7 -0.1 15.3 10.3 0.2 -1.3 8.4 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 32.1 4.4 51.7 34.7 3.7 5.2 19.3 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 23.7 -1.6 14.2 9.5 -2.1 0.7 0.9 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 27.7 -4.2 21.4 15.2 1.4 -0.8 -0.3 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 29.4 5.4 56.7 36.0 6.0 4.3 18.9 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 21.4 2.5 22.6 15.4 0.9 2.7 1.9 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 24.0 -1.6 16.8 8.1 1.3 2.1 -2.5 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 29.6 3.7 30.5 18.1 1.0 2.9 -2.5 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 24.9 3.2 25.6 16.8 0.6 -2.0 8.4 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 16.2 -1.5 14.3 8.4 -0.2 -1.5 4.1 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 18.2 -1.2 9.4 2.1 1.5 -0.9 4.4 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 20.6 -4.9 22.4 13.5 3.6 -1.8 0.1 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 12.9 16.7 11.8 4.2 -1.7 -2.1 -2.5 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 18.5 -3.1 8.3 4.0 2.4 -1.1 1.5 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 12.3 -9.8 39.2 22.1 -3.8 -0.1 44.5 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 17.4 -5.8 11.9 7.4 -0.9 1.9 -3.0 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 10.0 -0.1 11.6 9.4 -6.7 -3.8 6.7 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 19.2 4.7 9.2 6.7 0.6 -0.8 -1.2 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 16.3 3.6 12.4 6.4 -4.4 -3.0 -0.9
Monthly Wholesale Trade for April is scheduled to be released June 9, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. Address inquiries concerning this report to Service Sector Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233, or call Nancy Piesto, (301) 763-2747.
This report is available on day of issue through the Department of Commerce's STAT-USA website; for information, call (202) 482-1986.
Source: U.S.
Census Bureau
E-mail questions
to: Monthly
Wholesale Trade Survey
Last Revised: May 7, 2004
