Essendant Inc. (NASDAQ: ESND), Deerfield, IL, reported that second-quarter sales fell 0.5 percent to $1.3 billion compared to the second quarter of 2017. The company also reported a net loss of $97,000 for the quarter.

The sales decline was driven by reduced sales in the national reseller channel, but was partially offset by higher sales in its industrial, independent reseller and automotive channels, the company said.

By category, net sales fell 1 percent in Jan San Products, 3.5 percent in Technology Products, 5.4 percent in Traditional Office Products, and 9.9 percent in Office Furniture. Sales increased in Industrial Supplies, 11.6 percent; Cut-Sheet Paper Products, 5.8 percent; and Automotive Products, 4 percent.