March 2009 sales of wholesalers were $310.9 billion, down 2.4 percent from February and were down 18.1 percent from March 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. March sales of durable goods were down 3.3 percent from last month and were down 19.6 percent from a year ago. Sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were down 10.6 percent from last month and sales of electrical and electronic goods were down 5.9 percent. Sales of nondurable goods were down 1.6 percent from last month and were down 16.9 percent from last year. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were down 5.1 percent from last month and sales of chemicals and allied products were down 5.0 percent.
 
Inventories
Total inventories of wholesalers were $411.7 billion at the end of March, down …