U.S. Census Bureau declares that February 2006 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 $312.1 billion, virtually unchanged (+/-0.5 Percent) from the revised January level and were up 9.2 percent (+/-1.2 Percent) from the February 2005 level.
The January preliminary estimate was revised downward $1.0 billion or 0.3 percent. February sales of durable goods increased 0.2 percent (+/-0.8 Percent) from last month and were up 8.7 percent (+/-1.3 Percent) from a year ago. Compared to last month, sales of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies increased 3.2 percent, while lumber and other construction materials decreased 5.2 percent.
February sales of nondurable goods were down 0.1 percent (+/-0.8 Percent) from last month, but were up 9.7 percent (+/-1.5 Percent) from last year. Compared to last month, sales of apparel, piece goods, and notions were down 3.5 percent, while farm product raw materials increased 3.5 percent.
Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers' sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $365.5 billion at the end of February, up 0.8 percent (+/-0.3 Percent) from last month and were up 6.2 percent (+/-1.0 Percent) from a year ago. The January preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent.
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