The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest wholesale trade statistics for October 2023 logged a decrease in inventories both month-to-month and year-over-year.

Inventories of merchant wholesalers were $897.1 billion at the end of October, down 0.4% from the revised September level and down 2.3% year-over-year.

The September 2023 to October 2023 inventories change was revised down from the advance estimate of down 0.2% to down 0.4, according to the Dec. 7 report.

Sales

The bureau reported that October 2023 sales of merchant wholesalers were $667.9 billion, down 1.3% from September’s revised level, and down 0.4% year-over-year. The August to September percent change was revised up from the advance 2.2% estimate to 2.0%.

Inventory-to-Sales Ratio

The October inventory-to-sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, based on seasonally-adjusted data, was 1.34, down from September’s 1.37.