February 2008 sales of wholesalers were $377.4 billion, down 0.8 percent from the revised January level, but up 12.2 percent from the February 2007 level. The January preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.9 billion or 0.2 percent. February sales of durable goods were down 1.7 percent from last month, but up 3.6 percent from a year ago.

Compared to last month, sales of furniture and home furnishings were down 4.6 percent and sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were down 4.1 percent. Sales of nondurable goods were up 0.1 percent from last month and were up 20.5 percent from last year. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were up 2.6 percent from last month, while sales of farm product raw materials were down 4.4 percent.

Inventories. …