CURRENT BUSINESS REPORTS

Monthly Wholesale Trade

Sales and Inventories

U.S. Department of Commerce

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

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

Sales

May 2002 sales of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences but not for price changes, were $227.8 billion, down 0.2 percent (+/-0.5%) from the revised April level, but were up 0.2 percent (+/-1.4%) from the May 2001 level. The April preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent. Among durable goods, sales of lumber and other construction materials were down 2.4 percent from last month, while electrical goods increased 2.3 percent. Among nondurable goods, sales of petroleum and petroleum products decreased 4.4 percent from April and farm products raw materials fell 2.7 percent.

Inventories

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes,were $281.4 billion at the end of May, up 0.1 percent (+/-0.3%) from last month, but were down 7.2 percent (+/-2.0%) from a year ago. The April preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent. Among durable goods, inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies increased 2.5 percent, while machinery, equipment and supplies decreased 1.6 percent. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods increased 0.6 percent (+/-0.5%) from last month, but were down 0.9 percent (+/-3.6%) from a year ago. Compared to last month, inventories of paper and paper products were up 1.7 percent.

Inventories/Sales Ratio

The May inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.24. The May 2001 ratio was 1.33. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- May (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 May(p) Apr(r) May(r) code Sales, Total....................................... 227768 228131 227281 421 Durable Goods....................................... 113561 113367 115478 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 17254 17440 17210 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3530 3510 3615 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6680 6846 6231 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 21134 20942 22937 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 11112 11065 12708 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7458 7596 7954 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 18296 17877 17648 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5403 5523 5209 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 20525 20201 21660 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 13281 13432 13014 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 114207 114764 111803 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6205 6172 6518 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 18589 18569 15539 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 6992 6964 6768 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 34608 34511 33429 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 8430 8661 8686 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5110 5048 4894 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 14296 14952 15675 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6444 6459 5961 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 13533 13428 14333 Inventories, Total.................................. 281433 281193 303204 421 Durable Goods....................................... 168251 168636 189003 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 23225 22667 24931 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5178 5199 5730 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6777 6767 6532 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22829 22848 25870 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 8286 8167 10233 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 12034 12038 13414 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 23285 23268 28873 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10173 10029 10340 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 45168 45909 51023 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 19582 19911 22290 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 113182 112557 114201 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6123 6021 6949 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 27759 27667 24865 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 11803 11922 13757 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 21460 21278 21598 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 9965 9981 10732 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6089 6057 6155 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4754 4742 4192 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6755 6743 6399 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 18474 18146 19554 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.24 1.23 1.33 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.48 1.49 1.64 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.35 1.30 1.45 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.47 1.48 1.59 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 1.01 0.99 1.05 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.08 1.09 1.13 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.75 0.74 0.81 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.61 1.58 1.69 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.27 1.30 1.64 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.88 1.82 1.99 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.20 2.27 2.36 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.47 1.48 1.71 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.99 0.98 1.02 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.99 0.98 1.07 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.49 1.49 1.60 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.69 1.71 2.03 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.62 0.62 0.65 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.18 1.15 1.24 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.19 1.20 1.26 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.33 0.32 0.27 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 1.05 1.04 1.07 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.37 1.35 1.36 (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-- May (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 May Apr May May Apr May 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 from from from from from from Apr Mar May Apr Mar May 2002 2002 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. -0.2 1.5 0.2 0.1 -0.9 -7.2 421 Durable Goods....................................... 0.2 1.7 -1.7 -0.2 -0.9 -11.0 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... -1.1 1.1 0.3 2.5 -1.6 -6.8 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 0.6 -0.5 -2.4 -0.4 0.3 -9.6 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. -2.4 0.2 7.2 0.1 0.8 3.8 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 0.9 -0.9 -7.9 -0.1 -0.1 -11.8 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.4 0.0 -12.6 1.5 -0.8 -19.0 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... -1.8 7.6 -6.2 0.0 -0.2 -10.3 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 2.3 2.7 3.7 0.1 -0.5 -19.4 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. -2.2 0.6 3.7 1.4 -0.8 -1.6 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 1.6 2.6 -5.2 -1.6 -1.7 -11.5 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ -1.1 2.8 2.1 -1.7 -0.6 -12.1 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... -0.5 1.2 2.2 0.6 -0.9 -0.9 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.5 0.8 -4.8 1.7 -0.3 -11.9 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 0.1 1.1 19.6 0.3 -1.8 11.6 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 0.4 0.6 3.3 -1.0 -3.3 -14.2 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.3 -0.8 3.5 0.9 -0.3 -0.6 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. -2.7 3.4 -2.9 -0.2 -1.9 -7.1 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.2 5.9 4.4 0.5 -0.5 -1.1 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... -4.4 8.0 -8.8 0.3 -0.4 13.4 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... -0.2 -1.0 8.1 0.2 1.4 5.6 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 0.8 -2.0 -5.6 1.8 0.5 -5.5 (1) ADJUSTED FOR SEASONAL VARIATIONS AND, IN THE CASE OF SALES, ALSO TRADING-DAY DIFFERENCES. SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- May (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 May(p) Apr(r) May(r) CUM CUM code Sales, Total....................................... 237668 231215 238178 1117384 1137796 421 Durable Goods....................................... 117873 115036 120136 553685 574172 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 18048 18417 18088 86225 84344 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 3576 3559 3673 17119 18164 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 7401 7188 6904 33173 29274 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 21641 20377 23235 103349 110529 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 11068 10346 12505 53755 60948 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 7973 7778 8479 36778 40035 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 18150 17412 17666 85674 90935 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 5781 5689 5615 27025 25968 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 21982 21453 23306 100152 109267 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 13321 13163 13170 64190 65656 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 119795 116179 118042 563699 563624 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6310 6116 6668 30415 32630 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 18738 18680 15741 91019 76240 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 6607 6762 6511 34404 33987 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 36684 34546 35502 171053 164476 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 8346 8696 8886 43240 46968 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 5493 5159 5286 25129 25275 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 15568 15236 16710 68571 80653 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 7082 6401 6599 30072 28146 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 14967 14583 16139 69796 75249 Inventories, Total.................................. 278656 281458 300581 421 Durable Goods....................................... 169099 170111 190018 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 23295 23075 25031 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 5137 5048 5684 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 6940 6936 6702 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 22624 23122 25637 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 8228 8290 10120 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 12058 12002 13441 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 23238 23035 28786 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 10224 10109 10433 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 45981 46873 51992 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 19602 19911 22312 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 109557 111347 110563 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 6215 6081 7032 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 26232 27335 23547 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 11685 11433 13619 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 21310 20916 21447 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 8480 9702 9090 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6168 6087 6229 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 4649 4671 4096 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 6769 6831 6418 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 18049 18291 19085 Inventories/Sales Ratios, Total...................... 1.17 1.22 1.26 421 Durable Goods....................................... 1.43 1.48 1.58 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... 1.29 1.25 1.38 4212 Furniture and Home furnishings......................... 1.44 1.42 1.55 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 0.94 0.96 0.97 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 1.05 1.13 1.10 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 0.74 0.80 0.81 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 1.51 1.54 1.59 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 1.28 1.32 1.63 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.77 1.78 1.86 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.09 2.18 2.23 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.47 1.51 1.69 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 0.91 0.96 0.94 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 0.98 0.99 1.05 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 1.40 1.46 1.50 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... 1.77 1.69 2.09 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 0.58 0.61 0.60 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. 1.02 1.12 1.02 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 1.12 1.18 1.18 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 0.30 0.31 0.25 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 0.96 1.07 0.97 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 1.21 1.25 1.18 (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-- May (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 05 Months May Apr May 2002 May Apr May 2002 2002 2002 from 2002 2002 2002 from from from 05 from from from Apr Mar May Months Apr Mar May 2002 2002 2001 2001 2002 2002 2001 TOTAL.............................................. 2.8 1.7 -0.2 -1.8 -1.0 -0.9 -7.3 421 Durable Goods....................................... 2.5 1.1 -1.9 -3.6 -0.6 0.3 -11.0 4211 Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies..... -2.0 2.3 -0.2 2.2 1.0 -1.6 -6.9 4212 Furniture and Home Furnishings......................... 0.5 0.6 -2.6 -5.8 1.8 0.2 -9.6 4213 Lumber & Other Construction Materials.................. 3.0 7.6 7.2 13.3 0.1 0.9 3.6 4214 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies..... 6.2 -7.1 -6.9 -6.5 -2.2 2.8 -11.8 42143 Computer & Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software. 7.0 -10.2 -11.5 -11.8 -0.7 3.8 -18.7 4215 Metals and Minerals, ex. Petroleum..................... 2.5 8.0 -6.0 -8.1 0.5 0.0 -10.3 4216 Electrical Goods....................................... 4.2 -1.6 2.7 -5.8 0.9 0.7 -19.3 4217 Hardware, Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies.. 1.6 6.0 3.0 4.1 1.1 -0.7 -2.0 4218 Machinery, Equipment and Supplies...................... 2.5 6.3 -5.7 -8.3 -1.9 -0.5 -11.6 4219 Miscellaneous Durable Goods............................ 1.2 0.1 1.1 -2.2 -1.6 1.5 -12.1 422 Nondurable Goods..................................... 3.1 2.2 1.5 0.0 -1.6 -2.7 -0.9 4221 Paper and Paper Products............................... 3.2 0.1 -5.4 -6.8 2.2 0.9 -11.6 4222 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries.......................... 0.3 2.0 19.0 19.4 -4.0 -3.1 11.4 4223 Apparel, Piece Goods, and Notions...................... -2.3 -11.0 1.5 1.2 2.2 -3.6 -14.2 4224 Groceries and Related Products......................... 6.2 -0.9 3.3 4.0 1.9 -0.8 -0.6 4225 Farm Product Raw Materials............................. -4.0 4.1 -6.1 -7.9 -12.6 -12.0 -6.7 4226 Chemicals and Allied Products.......................... 6.5 6.8 3.9 -0.6 1.3 -0.5 -1.0 4227 Petroleum and Petroleum Products....................... 2.2 12.7 -6.8 -15.0 -0.5 -0.8 13.5 4228 Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverages........... 10.6 3.2 7.3 6.8 -0.9 4.2 5.5 4229 Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods......................... 2.6 5.2 -7.3 -7.2 -1.3 -3.3 -5.4
SOURCE: Monthly Wholesale Trade Sales and Inventories-- May (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