For Wire Transmission 10:00 a.m. ET January 9, 2003 CB03-04
MONTHLY WHOLESALE TRADE: SALES AND INVENTORIES
NOVEMBER 2002
Sales
November 2002 sales of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences but not for price changes, were $235.7 billion, up 1.2 percent (+/-0.6%) from the revised October level, and were up 6.2 percent (+/-0.9%) from the November 2001 level. The October preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent. Among durable goods, sales of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies increased 3.4 percent from October, while sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, decreased 4.8 percent. Sales of nondurable goods increased 1.6 percent (+/-0.8%) from last month and were up 10.4 percent (+/-1.4%) from last year. Compared to last month, sales of farm product raw materials increased 7.4 percent and apparel, piece goods, and notions increased 5.0 percent.Inventories
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $284.5 billion at the end of November, up 0.2 percent (+/-0.3%) from last month, but were down 1.7 percent (+/-0.8%) from a year ago. The October preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent. Among durable goods, inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 2.3 percent from last month. Among nondurable goods, inventories of chemicals and allied products increased 1.9 percent from October and inventories of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages were up 1.5 percent.Inventories/Sales Ratio
The November inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.21. The November 2001 ratio was 1.30.
TABLE 1A. ADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2002 AND 2001 (Total sales and inventory estimates are shown in millions of dollars. Estimates are based on data from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey, Annual Wholesale Trade Survey, and administrative records. Except for NAICS code 4225, estimates have been adjusted using results of the most recent economic census.) 2002 2002 2001 NAICS Kind of business Nov(p) Oct(r) Nov(r) code Sales, Total....................................... 235672 232891 221978 421 Durable Goods....................................... 114144 113332 111941 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 18028 17430 17111 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3503 3430 3545 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6526 6682 6311 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22636 22329 21559 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 11510 11688 11537 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7296 7662 7352 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 17714 17251 18044 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5195 5232 5422 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 19090 19679 20358 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 14156 13637 12239 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 121528 119559 110037 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6320 6244 6218 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 19500 18942 17163 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 7192 6851 6794 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 35751 35638 33813 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 10618 9883 8419 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5052 5073 4824 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 16666 16826 12615 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 6490 6366 6156 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 13939 13736 14035 Inventories, Total.................................. 284491 283971 289458 421 Durable Goods....................................... 169819 169368 175818 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 25294 24718 24223 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5186 5182 5431 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6751 6747 6744 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22655 22627 23132 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 7675 7786 8442 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 12898 12755 12382 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 23551 23741 24915 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 9885 9914 10301 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 44117 44091 48135 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 19482 19593 20555 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 114672 114603 113640 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6066 5999 6368 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 27740 27811 27531 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 12411 12544 12979 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 22142 22298 21100 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 9394 9220 10037 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6286 6166 6113 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4444 4426 4269 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 6952 6847 6274 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 19237 19292 18969 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.21 1.22 1.30 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.49 1.49 1.57 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.40 1.42 1.42 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.48 1.51 1.53 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 1.03 1.01 1.07 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.00 1.01 1.07 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.67 0.67 0.73 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.77 1.66 1.68 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.33 1.38 1.38 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.90 1.89 1.90 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.31 2.24 2.36 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.38 1.44 1.68 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.94 0.96 1.03 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.96 0.96 1.02 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.42 1.47 1.60 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.73 1.83 1.91 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.62 0.63 0.62 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 0.88 0.93 1.19 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.24 1.22 1.27 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.27 0.26 0.34 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 1.07 1.08 1.02 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.38 1.40 1.35 (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-FEBRUARY 2002. (r) REVISED. Note: Estimates have not been adjusted for price changes. Information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at http://www/census.gov/svsd/www/mwtsreliability.html.
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 Nov Oct Nov Nov Oct Nov 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 from from from from from from Oct Sep Nov Oct Sep Nov 2002 2002 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. 1.2 0.0 6.2 0.2 -0.5 -1.7 421 Durable Goods....................................... 0.7 -1.0 2.0 0.3 -0.1 -3.4 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 3.4 -1.9 5.4 2.3 2.6 4.4 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 2.1 -0.3 -1.2 0.1 -0.6 -4.5 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. -2.3 -1.4 3.4 0.1 0.0 0.1 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.4 -1.4 5.0 0.1 -2.4 -2.1 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. -1.5 -2.7 -0.2 -1.4 -4.8 -9.1 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... -4.8 0.8 -0.8 1.1 -0.8 4.2 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 2.7 -0.2 -1.8 -0.8 0.5 -5.5 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. -0.7 -1.7 -4.2 -0.3 -0.8 -4.0 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... -3.0 -3.3 -6.2 0.1 -0.8 -8.3 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 3.8 3.1 15.7 -0.6 0.7 -5.2 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 1.6 1.0 10.4 0.1 -1.0 0.9 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 1.2 0.3 1.6 1.1 -0.6 -4.7 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 2.9 0.4 13.6 -0.3 0.9 0.8 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 5.0 -0.9 5.9 -1.1 -3.5 -4.4 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.3 0.4 5.7 -0.7 -0.5 4.9 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 7.4 3.6 26.1 1.9 -6.8 -6.4 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... -0.4 -2.7 4.7 1.9 0.3 2.8 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... -1.0 5.8 32.1 0.4 -6.8 4.1 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 1.9 -1.0 5.4 1.5 1.6 10.8 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.5 -0.3 -0.7 -0.3 0.4 1.4 (1) ADJUSTED FOR SEASONAL VARIATIONS AND, IN THE CASE OF SALES, ALSO FOR TRADING-DAY DIFFERENCES.
TABLE 1B. UNADJUSTED ESTIMATED MONTHLY SALES, INVENTORIES, AND INVENTORIES/SALES RATIOS OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS: 2002 AND 2001 (Total sales and inventory estimates are shown in millions of dollars. Estimates are based on data from the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey, Annual Wholesale Trade Survey, and administrative records. Except for NAICS code 4225, estimates have been adjusted using results of the most recent economic census.) 2002 2002 2001 2002 2001 NAICS Kind of business Nov(p) Oct(r) Nov(r) CUM CUM code Sales, Total....................................... 229281 249038 221186 2527061 2502479 421 Durable Goods....................................... 110167 122111 110877 1251076 1266026 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 17884 18528 17316 193674 188019 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3542 3790 3736 38807 40336 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 5932 7357 5964 74443 68301 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 21368 23490 20718 239038 244015 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 10681 12483 10856 126272 133822 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 6749 8290 7080 83245 86836 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 17413 18993 18170 193281 197187 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 4935 5698 5319 59596 58461 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 17735 20801 19686 219708 237143 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 14609 15164 12888 149284 145728 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 119114 126927 110309 1275985 1236453 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6124 6775 6174 68604 70786 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 19149 20097 17455 203001 175882 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 6883 7824 6604 78287 75531 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 35322 37064 33982 385757 368919 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 11255 11336 9076 99374 97445 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 4688 5372 4631 55766 54722 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 16199 17684 12501 163060 165888 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 6698 6888 6581 70308 65712 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 12796 13887 13305 151828 161568 Inventories, Total.................................. 287242 286993 292197 421 Durable Goods....................................... 168996 169230 174817 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 25699 24842 24538 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5165 5296 5398 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6542 6605 6521 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22904 23012 23456 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 7828 7926 8662 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 12782 12691 12258 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 23622 23860 24965 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 9687 9755 10105 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 43191 43341 47124 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 19404 19828 20452 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 118246 117763 117380 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6145 6005 6438 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 28017 28423 27779 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 11927 12569 12486 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 22939 23190 21902 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 11433 10391 12336 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6248 6049 6070 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4528 4448 4363 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 7272 7319 6563 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 19737 19369 19443 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.25 1.15 1.32 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.53 1.39 1.58 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.44 1.34 1.42 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.46 1.40 1.44 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 1.10 0.90 1.09 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.07 0.98 1.13 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.73 0.63 0.80 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.89 1.53 1.73 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.36 1.26 1.37 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.96 1.71 1.90 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.44 2.08 2.39 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.33 1.31 1.59 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.99 0.93 1.06 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 1.00 0.89 1.04 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.46 1.41 1.59 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.73 1.61 1.89 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.65 0.63 0.64 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.02 0.92 1.36 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.33 1.13 1.31 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.28 0.25 0.35 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... 1.09 1.06 1.00 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.54 1.39 1.46 (p) PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE. SEE SAMPLE DESIGN AND ESTIMATION PROCEDURES IN ANNUAL BENCHMARK REPORT FOR WHOLESALE TRADE: JANUARY 1992-FEBRUARY 2002. (r) REVISED. Note: Estimates have not been adjusted for price changes. Information on confidentiality protection, sampling error, nonsampling error, sample design, and definitions may be found at http://www/census.gov/svsd/www/mwtsreliability.html.
TABLE 2B. PERCENT CHANGES IN SALES AND INVENTORIES OF MERCHANT WHOLESALERS UNADJUSTED INVENTORIES, SALES END-OF-MONTH (AT COST) NAICS Kind of business code 11 Months Nov Oct Nov 2002 Nov Oct Nov 2002 2002 2002 from 2002 2002 2002 from from from 11 from from from Oct Sep Nov Months Oct Sep Nov 2002 2002 2001 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. -7.9 7.7 3.7 1.0 0.1 1.4 -1.7 421 Durable Goods....................................... -9.8 5.6 -0.6 -1.2 -0.1 -0.1 -3.3 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... -3.5 9.9 3.3 3.0 3.4 4.9 4.7 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... -6.5 6.8 -5.2 -3.8 -2.5 -2.0 -4.3 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. -19.4 8.4 -0.5 9.0 -1.0 -2.1 0.3 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... -9.0 -2.6 3.1 -2.0 -0.5 -0.7 -2.4 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. -14.4 -6.6 -1.6 -5.6 -1.2 -3.0 -9.6 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... -18.6 10.2 -4.7 -4.1 0.7 -2.1 4.3 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... -8.3 5.9 -4.2 -2.0 -1.0 0.0 -5.4 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. -13.4 9.0 -7.2 1.9 -0.7 -2.5 -4.1 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... -14.7 3.7 -9.9 -7.4 -0.3 -1.6 -8.3 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ -3.7 11.5 13.4 2.4 -2.1 1.5 -5.1 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... -6.2 9.8 8.0 3.2 0.4 3.8 0.7 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... -9.6 7.6 -0.8 -3.1 2.3 0.2 -4.6 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... -4.7 7.9 9.7 15.4 -1.4 4.9 0.9 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... -12.0 8.9 4.2 3.6 -5.1 -5.8 -4.5 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... -4.7 7.4 3.9 4.6 -1.1 2.3 4.7 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. -0.7 28.8 24.0 2.0 10.0 26.8 -7.3 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... -12.7 6.2 1.2 1.9 3.3 -0.4 2.9 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... -8.4 14.2 29.6 -1.7 1.8 -6.4 3.8 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages.......... -2.8 12.8 1.8 7.0 -0.6 5.6 10.8 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... -7.9 2.5 -3.8 -6.0 1.9 5.0 1.5
Monthly Wholesale Trade for December is scheduled to be released February 7, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. Address inquiries concerning this report to Service Sector Statistics Division, U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC 20233, or call Nancy Piesto, (301) 763-2747.
This report is available on day of issue through the Department of Commerce's STAT-USA website; for information, call (202) 482-1986.
Source: U.S.
Census Bureau
E-mail questions
to: Monthly
Wholesale Trade Survey
Last Revised: January 9, 2003
