Wholesale trade improved slightly in October compared to the same month a year ago and compared to September, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

October 2020 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences but not for price changes, were $496.6 billion, up 0.9% from the revised October 2019 level and up 1.8% from the revised September level. The August 2020 to September 2020 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.1% to up 0.4%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $649 billion at the end of October, down 2.2% from the revised October 2019 level but up 1.1% from the revised September level. The September 2020 to October 2020 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.9% to up 1.1%.

The October inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.31. The October 2019 ratio was 1.35.