December 2007 sales of merchant wholesalers were $376.6 billion, down 0.7% from the revised November level and were up 10.6% from the December 2006 level. The November preliminary estimate was revised downward $1.1 billion or 0.3%.

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers were $411.6 billion at the end of December, up 1.1% from the revised November level and were up 6.1% from a year ago. The November preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.8 billion or 0.2%.

End-of-month inventories of durable goods were up 0.9% from last month and were up 1.9% from last December. Inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 3.5% from last month, and inventories of metals and minerals, except petroleum, were up 1.7%.

International Markets

In Tokyo Nikkei 225 Index closed lower 189.91 or 1.44% to 13,017.24, in Australia ASX 200 index increased 61.30 or 1.10% to close 5,658.00. Markets in Hong Kong were closed today.

Thailand SET index closed higher 13.27 or 1.67% to 806.44. Sensex index in India decreased 62.00 or 0.35% to 17,464.89. Markets of South Korea and Indonesia were closed today.

In London FTSE 100 Index closed higher 59.90 or 1.05% to 5,724.10, in Paris CAC 40 Index decreased 14.15 or 0.30% to close at 4,709.65 and in Frankfurt DAX index higher 33.56 or 0.50% to close at 6,767.28. In Zurich trading SMI increased 26.94 or 0.36% to close at 7,446.95.