The U.S. Census Bureau released its monthly wholesale trade report for August on Oct. 9, showing industry sales decreased vs. a month earlier, but increased year-over-year.
The figures showed that August sales of merchant wholesalers — except manufacturers’ sales branches and officers, after adjustment for season variations and trading differences but not for price changes — were $670.9 billion. That was down 0.1% from the revised July level (which improved 0.4% from June) and up 1.1% year-over-year.
Here’s how August U.S. merchant wholesaler sales fared in durable goods categories:
| Category & August ‘24 Total | vs. July ’24 | vs. August ‘23 |
| Automotive, $52.7B | +1.3% | +5.0% |
| Furniture, $8.8B | -0.7% | +2.3% |
| Lumber, $17.7B | +0.4% | -1.6% |
| Professional Equipment, $52.1B | +0.6% | +4.4% |
| Computer Equipment, $25.9B | +1.9% | +5.2% |
| Metals, $16.8B | -2.7% | -13.5% |
| Electrical, $75.6B | +2.3% | +15.6% |
| Hardware, $20.5B | 0.0% | +7.0% |
| Machinery, $52.3B | +1.4% | +0.5% |
| Miscellaneous, $26.5B | -0.3% | +0.2% |
Inventories
The report showed that total inventories for merchant wholesalers ended August at $904.8 billion, up 0.1% from July’s revised mark (also up 0.2%), and up 0.6% year-over-year.
Inventories/Sales Ratio
The August inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers was 1.35, unchanged from July.
MDM Forecast Update
Stay tuned for the latest monthly MDM Forecast that reflects Census Bureau data through September 2024. Here’s our forecast issued in mid-September.
MDM Premium members and members of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors — who now have complimentary access to Premium upon activation here — can access the our new 2024 Annual Economic Outlook Report today from the Premium Dashboard.
Non-MDM Premium members can purchase the report here from the MDM Store.
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