May 2009 wholesale revenues were $311.3 billion, up 0.2% from the revised April level, but down 19.9% from the May 2008 level. The April preliminary estimate was revised upward $1.4 billion or 0.4%.
May sales of durable goods were down 0.2% from last month and were down 23.0% from a year ago. Sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum were down 8.1% for last month, while motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 4.4%. Sales of nondurable goods were up 0.5% from last month, but were down 17.2% from last year.
Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were up 4.6% from last month and sales of drugs and druggists’ sundries were up 1.4%.
Total inventories were $402.2 billion at the end of May, down 0.8% from the revised April level and were down 7.6% from a …