The U.S. Census Bureau released the monthly wholesale trade report for May.
Sales
May 2025 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 $697.2 billion, down 0.3 percent (±0.4 percent)* from the revised April level, but were up 4.8 percent (±0.9 percent) from the revised May 2024 level. The March 2025 to April 2025 percent change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.1 percent (±0.5 percent)* to virtually unchanged (±0.5 percent)*.
Inventories
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 $905.5 billion at the end of May, down 0.3 percent (±0.2 percent) from the revised April level. Total inventories were up 1.4 percent (±0.5 percent) from the revised May 2024 level. The April 2025 to May 2025 percent change was unrevised from the advance estimate of down 0.3 percent (±0.2 percent).
Inventories/Sales Ratio
The May inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.30. The May 2024 ratio was 1.34.