CURRENT BUSINESS REPORTS

Monthly Wholesale Trade

Sales and Inventories

U.S. Department of Commerce

ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS ADMINISTRATION April 2002 U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Released June 7, 2002 at 10:00 A.M. EDT.,
Monthly Wholesale Trade for May is scheduled to be released July 10, 2002 at 10:00 a.m.

Sales

April 2002 sales of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences but not for price changes, were $228.5 billion, up 1.6 percent (+/-0.5%) from the revised March level, and were up 0.2 percent (+/-1.5%) from the April 2001 level. The March preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent. April sales of durable goods increased 1.8 percent (+/-0.8%) from last month, but were 1.9 percent (+/-2.4%) below a year ago. Compared to last month, sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum increased 7.4 percent and motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies increased 2.7 percent. April sales of nondurable goods increased 1.4 percent (+/-0.7%) from March, and were up 2.2 percent (+/-1.8%) from last year. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products increased 7.9 percent from last month, while chemicals and allied products grew 4.8 percent.

Inventories

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $281.8 billion at the end of April, down 0.7 percent (+/-0.3%) from last month, and were down 7.0 percent (+/-2.3%) from a year ago. The March preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent. End-of-month inventories of durable goods were down 0.6 percent (+/-0.4%) from March and were 11.4 percent (+/-2.0%) below last April. Compared to last month, inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies decreased 2.0 percent and computer and computer peripheral equipment and software declined 1.2 percent. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods decreased 0.9 percent (+/-0.6%) from last month, but were up 0.6 percent (+/-4.6%) from a year ago. Among nondurable goods, inventories of apparel, piece goods, and notions were down 3.0 percent from last month and farm product raw materials decreased 2.1 percent.

Inventories/Sales Ratio

The April inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.23. The April 2001 ratio was 1.33. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- April (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.

Table 1A - Adjusted Estimated Monthly Sales Table 1B - Unadjusted Estimated Monthly Sales Table 2A - Adjusted Percent Changes Table 2B - Unadjusted Percent Changes

TABLE 1A. ADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2002 AND 2001

(In Millions of dollars) 2002 2002 2001 NAICS Kind of business Apr(p) Mar(r) Apr(r) code Sales, Total....................................... 228477 224855 228128 421 Durable Goods....................................... 113505 111459 115678 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 17717 17256 17106 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3496 3527 3701 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6883 6831 6051 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 20917 21129 22672 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 11072 11064 12283 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7583 7060 7885 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 17756 17403 18265 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5556 5490 5084 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 20089 19693 21697 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 13508 13070 13217 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 114972 113396 112450 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6154 6121 6587 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 18625 18362 15145 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 6992 6925 6658 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 34524 34777 33842 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 8708 8380 9012 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 4996 4769 4948 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 14929 13841 15691 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6483 6524 6069 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 13561 13697 14498 Inventories, Total.................................. 281762 283732 302941 421 Durable Goods....................................... 169121 170123 190968 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 22583 23038 25424 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5199 5181 5808 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6776 6713 6533 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22868 22873 26461 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 8139 8234 10591 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 12033 12068 13558 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 23247 23376 29716 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10009 10113 10493 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 46388 46720 50446 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 20018 20041 22529 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 112641 113609 111973 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6002 6037 6923 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 27804 28171 23527 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 11971 12335 13533 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 21284 21336 21496 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 9961 10179 10474 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6116 6086 6213 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4764 4760 4158 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6694 6653 6404 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 18045 18052 19245 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.23 1.26 1.33 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.49 1.53 1.65 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.27 1.34 1.49 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.49 1.47 1.57 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 0.98 0.98 1.08 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.09 1.08 1.17 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.74 0.74 0.86 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.59 1.71 1.72 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.31 1.34 1.63 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.80 1.84 2.06 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.31 2.37 2.33 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.48 1.53 1.70 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.98 1.00 1.00 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.98 0.99 1.05 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.49 1.53 1.55 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.71 1.78 2.03 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.62 0.61 0.64 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.14 1.21 1.16 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.22 1.28 1.26 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.32 0.34 0.26 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 1.03 1.02 1.06 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.33 1.32 1.33 (r) REVISED. (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-FEBRUARY 2002. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- April (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.

TABLE 2A. PERCENT CHANGES IN SALES AND INVENTORIES OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS

ADJUSTED(1) INVENTORIES, SALES END-OF-MONTH (AT COST) NAICS Kind of business code Apr Mar Apr Apr Mar Apr 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 from from from from from from Mar Feb Apr Mar Feb Apr 2002 2002 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. 1.6 0.1 0.2 -0.7 -0.3 -7.0 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.8 -0.8 -1.9 -0.6 -0.6 -11.4 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 2.7 -1.9 3.6 -2.0 -1.1 -11.2 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... -0.9 0.8 -5.5 0.3 -2.2 -10.5 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 0.8 -1.7 13.7 0.9 0.4 3.7 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... -1.0 -0.7 -7.7 0.0 1.1 -13.6 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.1 -1.7 -9.9 -1.2 2.7 -23.2 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7.4 -0.2 -3.8 -0.3 -0.6 -11.2 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 2.0 -0.2 -2.8 -0.6 -0.7 -21.8 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.2 0.1 9.3 -1.0 -1.0 -4.6 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.0 0.3 -7.4 -0.7 -1.1 -8.0 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 3.4 -2.8 2.2 -0.1 -0.4 -11.1 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 1.4 1.0 2.2 -0.9 0.2 0.6 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.5 -0.7 -6.6 -0.6 -1.9 -13.3 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.4 2.2 23.0 -1.3 0.6 18.2 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.0 1.4 5.0 -3.0 -2.2 -11.5 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... -0.7 -0.9 2.0 -0.2 0.6 -1.0 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 3.9 -1.3 -3.4 -2.1 0.5 -4.9 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 4.8 -3.6 1.0 0.5 -0.4 -1.6 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 7.9 12.6 -4.9 0.1 1.9 14.6 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... -0.6 1.0 6.8 0.6 2.8 4.5 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... -1.0 -2.7 -6.5 0.0 0.4 -6.2 (1) ADJUSTED FOR SEASONAL VARIATION AND, IN THE CASE OF SALES, ALSO TRADING-DAY DIFFERENCES. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- April (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.

TABLE 1B. UNADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2002 AND 2001

(In Millions of dollars) 2002 2002 2001 2002 2001 NAICS Kind of business Apr(p) Mar(r) Apr(r) CUM CUM code Sales, Total....................................... 231750 227385 224006 880251 899618 421 Durable Goods....................................... 115271 113751 113177 436047 454036 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 18745 17998 17431 68505 66256 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3548 3538 3623 13532 14491 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 7158 6681 6027 25742 22370 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 20436 21932 21380 81767 87294 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 10397 11518 11300 42738 48443 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7757 7201 7814 28784 31556 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 17330 17699 17206 67442 73269 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5678 5369 4982 21233 20353 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 21395 20185 22131 78112 85961 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 13224 13148 12583 50930 52486 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 116479 113634 110829 444204 445582 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6111 6109 6350 24100 25962 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 18699 18307 14645 72300 60499 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 6824 7597 6219 27859 27476 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 34559 34847 33199 134382 128974 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 8699 8355 8444 34897 38082 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5116 4831 4854 19593 19989 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 15272 13523 15644 53039 63943 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6431 6204 5729 23020 21547 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 14768 13861 15745 55014 59110 Inventories, Total.................................. 281760 284128 303322 421 Durable Goods....................................... 170252 169638 192241 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 23012 23453 25932 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5043 5036 5628 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6952 6874 6716 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 23120 22484 26779 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 8302 7987 10792 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 12009 12008 13531 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 23015 22885 29389 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10099 10184 10619 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 47084 47094 51253 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 19918 19620 22394 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 111508 114490 111081 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6074 6025 7027 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 27331 28199 23292 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 11480 11866 12992 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 20965 21080 21174 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 9702 11024 10202 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6177 6116 6269 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4693 4708 4091 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6788 6553 6481 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 18298 18919 19553 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.22 1.25 1.35 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.48 1.49 1.70 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.23 1.30 1.49 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.42 1.42 1.55 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 0.97 1.03 1.11 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.13 1.03 1.25 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.80 0.69 0.96 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.55 1.67 1.73 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.33 1.29 1.71 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.78 1.90 2.13 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.20 2.33 2.32 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.51 1.49 1.78 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.96 1.01 1.00 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.99 0.99 1.11 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.46 1.54 1.59 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.68 1.56 2.09 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.61 0.60 0.64 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.12 1.32 1.21 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.21 1.27 1.29 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.31 0.35 0.26 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 1.06 1.06 1.13 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.24 1.36 1.24 (r) REVISED. (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-FEBRUARY 2002. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- April (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.

TABLE 2B. PERCENT CHANGES IN SALES AND INVENTORIES OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS

UNADJUSTED INVENTORIES, SALES END-OF-MONTH (AT COST) NAICS Kind of business code 04 Months Apr Mar Apr 2002 Apr Mar Apr 2002 2002 2002 from 2002 2002 2002 from from from 04 from from from Mar Feb Apr Months Mar Feb Apr 2002 2002 2001 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. 1.9 10.6 3.5 -2.2 -0.8 -0.4 -7.1 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.3 11.4 1.9 -4.0 0.4 -0.7 -11.4 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 4.2 13.4 7.5 3.4 -1.9 -2.6 -11.3 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 0.3 12.6 -2.1 -6.6 0.1 -2.9 -10.4 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 7.1 12.1 18.8 15.1 1.1 3.4 3.5 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... -6.8 14.9 -4.4 -6.3 2.8 -0.3 -13.7 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. -9.7 15.6 -8.0 -11.8 3.9 -0.1 -23.1 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7.7 7.9 -0.7 -8.8 0.0 -1.0 -11.2 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... -2.1 10.8 0.7 -8.0 0.6 -1.9 -21.7 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5.8 6.7 14.0 4.3 -0.8 0.3 -4.9 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 6.0 12.7 -3.3 -9.1 0.0 0.9 -8.1 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 0.6 5.8 5.1 -3.0 1.5 -2.0 -11.1 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 2.5 9.7 5.1 -0.3 -2.6 -0.1 0.4 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.0 7.8 -3.8 -7.2 0.8 -1.1 -13.6 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 2.1 9.5 27.7 19.5 -3.1 2.5 17.3 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... -10.2 8.7 9.7 1.4 -3.3 -5.6 -11.6 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... -0.8 10.1 4.1 4.2 -0.5 1.8 -1.0 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 4.1 0.9 3.0 -8.4 -12.0 -5.6 -4.9 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5.9 3.0 5.4 -2.0 1.0 0.2 -1.5 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 12.9 19.4 -2.4 -17.1 -0.3 1.8 14.7 4228 Beer, Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 3.7 16.7 12.3 6.8 3.6 4.9 4.7 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 6.5 7.4 -6.2 -6.9 -3.3 -0.8 -6.4
SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- April (For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Postage stamps not acceptable; currency submitted at sender's risk. Annual subscription $17.00; single copy $1.50. Remittances from foreign countries must be by international money order or by draft on a U.S. bank, $21.25 per year.) Questions concerning this report should be directed to Mr. Scott Scheleur (301) 457-2747/2764.

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Source: U. S. Census Bureau 
        Service Sector Statistics Division