Economic Trends

Wholesale Sales and Inventories Up

Sales of wholesale merchants in October were up 22.2% from last year, according to data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

December 9, 2021

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2022 forecast strong despite inflation

2022 Forecast Remains Strong Despite Inflation

The U.S. Census Bureau says October 2021 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 $620.5 billion.

That figure is up 2.2% from the revised September level and up 22.2% from the revised October 2020 level.

The August-September 2021 percent change was revised from the
preliminary estimate of up 1.1% to up 1.7 %.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers — except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences, but not for price changes, —were $759.4 billion at the end of October, up 2.3% from the revised September level.

Total inventories were up 14.4% from the revised October 2020 level.

The September- October 2021 percent change was revised from the advance estimate of up 2.2% to up 2.3%.

The October inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.22. The October 2020 ratio was 1.31.

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