March 2006 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 $315.0 billion, up 0.7 percent from the revised February level and were up 9.9 percent from the March 2005 level. The February preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.7 billion or 0.2 percent. March sales of durable goods increased 0.3 percent from last month and were up 9.2 percent from a year ago. Sales of professional and commercial equipment and supplies increased 2.6 percent from last month, while motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were down 2.6 percent. March sales of nondurable goods increased 1.1 percent from last month and were up 10.7 percent from last year.
Inventories
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $366.7 billion at the end of March, up 0.2 percent from last month, and were up 6.3 percent from a year ago. The February preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent. End-of-month inventories of durable goods increased 0.2 percent from February and were up 6.7 percent from last March. Inventories of professional and commercial equipment and supplies decreased 1.7 percent from last month.
Inventories/Sales Ratio
The March inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.16. The March 2005 ratio was 1.20.
