November 2005 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers' sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading-day differences have been announced by the US Census Bureau, but not for price changes, stood at $311.7 billion, down 0.7 percent (+/-0.7 percent) from the revised October level and were up 8.3 percent (+/-1.2 percent) from the November 2004 level.
The October preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.9 billion or 0.3 percent. November sales of durable goods decreased 0.5 percent (+/-1.0 percent)* from last month, but were up 6.8 percent (+/- 1.5 percent) from a year ago.
November sales of nondurable goods were down 1.0 percent (+/-0.8 percent) from last month, but were up 9.8 percent (+/-1.5 percent) from last year. Compared to last month, sales of petroleum and petroleum products were down 7.0 percent, while sales of drugs and druggists' sundries were up 1.7 percent.
Inventories. Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers' sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $358.6 billion at the end of November, up 0.4 percent (+/-0.3 percent) from last month and were up 5.9 percent (+/-1.0 percent) from a year ago.
The October preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.2 billion or 0.1 percent. End-of-month inventories of durable goods increased 0.6 percent (+/-0.5 percent) from October and were up 6.5 percent (+/-1.2 percent) from last November.
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