WASHINGTON — November 2007 sales for merchant wholesalers rose 2.2 percent from October to $380.4 billion, according to a report by the U.S. Census Bureau. The total was up 14 percent from November 2006.
Sales of durable goods were up 0.9 percent from October and up 6.1 percent from last November. Sales of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software rose 3.9 percent from October. Sales of electrical and electronic goods rose 3.1 percent.
Sales of nondurable goods were up 3.3 percent from October and up 21.7 percent from November 2006. Sales of farm product raw materials rose 9.7 percent from last month. Sales of petroleum and petroleum products rose 8.9 percent.
Total inventories reached $406.2 billion, up 0.6 percent from October and up 4.3 percent from November 2006.
End-of-month inventories of durable goods increased 0.5 percent from October and 0.5 percent from last November. Inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies rose 2.3 percent from October. Inventories of professional and commercial equipment and supplies rose 1.4 percent.
End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods were up 0.8 percent from October and up 11 percent from last November. Inventories of petroleum and petroleum products increased 2.6 percent from last month. Inventories of chemicals and allied products increased 1.7 percent.
The inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers for November was 1.07. The November 2006 ratio was 1.17.
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