The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that October 2009 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 $326.2 billion, up 1.2 percent (+/-0.7%) from the revised September level, but were down 9.6 percent (+/-1.6%) from the October 2008 level. The September preliminary estimate was revised upward $2.0 billion or 0.6 percent. October sales of durable goods were up 0.8 percent (+/-1.4%)* from last month, but were down 11.1 percent (+/-2.6%) from a year ago. Sales of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software were up 5.8 percent from last month and sales of electrical and electronic goods were up 5.3 percent. Sales of nondurable goods were up 1.6 percent (+/-0.7%) from last month, but were down 8.3 percent (+/-1.1%) from last year. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products were up 5.9 percent from last month and sales of farm product raw materials were up 5.1 percent.
Here is a chart of the relevant data:
Click for a larger image
Notice that sales have increased for six straight months. Some of this is a rebounding from low levels, but not all.
