Wholesale trade in January was $432.6 billion, down 1.9 percent from December, but up 3.9 percent from January 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The December preliminary estimate was revised downward 0.3 percent.
January sales of durable goods were down 0.4 percent from last month, but were up 3.9 percent from a year ago. Sales of nondurable goods were down 3.2 percent from December, but up 3.9 percent from last January. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were down 7.5 percent from last month and sales of paper and paper products were down 2.9 percent.
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $521.2 billion at the end of January, up 0.6 percent from the revised December level and up 3.6 percent from January 2013. The December preliminary estimate was revised upward 0.1 percent.
January inventories of durable goods were up 0.4 percent from last month and were up 4.9 percent from a year ago. Inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 2.2 percent from last month, while inventories of electrical and electronic goods were down 2.4 percent.
Inventories of nondurable goods were up 0.8 percent from December and were up 1.8 percent from last January. Inventories of paper and paper products were up 2.8 percent from last month and inventories of drugs and druggists' sundries were up 2.7 percent.
The January inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers was 1.20. The January 2013 ratio was 1.21.
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