December 2008 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 $336.1 billion, down 3.6% from November and down 10.7% from the December 2007 level, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
 
The November preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.7 billion or 0.2%. December sales of durable goods were down 2.0% from last month and were down 9.4% from a year ago.
 
Compared to last month, sales of lumber and other construction materials were down 8.6% and sales of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were down 8.1%. Sales of nondurable goods were down 4.9% from last month and were down 11.8% from last year. Sales of …