February 2009 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, were $319.7 billion, up 0.6 percent from January and down 14.3 percent from February 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. February sales of durable goods were up 2.0 percent from last month, but were down 14.8 percent from a year ago. Compared to last month, sales of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 3.7 percent, while sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were down 5.6 percent. Sales of nondurable goods were down 0.4 percent from last month and were down 13.8 percent from last year. Sales of chemicals and allied products were down 4.6 percent from last month.
 
Inventories. Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $419.3 …