Wholesale trade improved in December compared to the same month a year ago and with November, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

December 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 $503.8 billion, up 1.7% from the revised December 2019 level and up 1.2% from the revised November 2020 level. The October 2020 to November 2020 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.2% to up 0.3%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $651.5 billion at the end of December, down 1.6% from the revised December 2019 level and up 0.3% from the revised November level. The November 2020 to December 2020 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 0.1% to up 0.3%.

The December inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.29. The December 2019 ratio was 1.34.