Wholesale trade sales dropped 1.1% in August compared to July, but sales were up 20.6% from revised 2020 levels for the same period, according to the latest report from the U.S. Census Bureau.

August 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 $595.5 billion.

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 $731.1 billion at the end of August, up 1.2%  from the revised July level.

Total inventories were up 12.3 percent from the revised August 2020 level. The July 2021 to August 2021 percent change was unrevised from the advance estimate of up 1.2 percent .