April 7, 2009

February 2009 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, were $319.7 billion, up 0.6% from January and down 14.3% from February 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
 
The January preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.7 billion or 0.2%. February sales of durable goods were up 2.0% from last month, but were down 14.8% from a year ago. Compared to last month, sales of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 3.7%, while sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were down 5.6%. Sales of nondurable goods were down 0.4% from last month and were down 13.8% from last year. Sales of chemicals and allied products were down 4.6% from last month.
 
Inventories
Total inventories of merchant …