The following is the unedited transcript of the news release from the U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce.

Sales

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that January 2007 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 $333.4 billion, down 0.9% from the revised December level, but were up 6.2% from the January 2006 level. The December preliminary estimate was revised downward $0.5 billion or 0.2%. January sales of durable goods were virtually unchanged from last month, but were up 5.7% from a year ago.

Compared to last month, sales of computer and computer peripheral equipment and software were down 5.0%, while sales of metals and minerals, except petroleum, increased 4.4%. January sales of nondurable goods were down 1.8% from last month, but were up 6.7% from last year. Compared to last month, sales of petroleum and petroleum products decreased 11.1% and sales of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages were down 5.3%.

Inventories

Total inventories of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers'' sales branches and offices, after adjustment for seasonal variations but not for price changes, were $396.7 billion at the end of January, up 0.7% from last month and were up 9.2% from a year ago. The December preliminary estimate was revised upward $0.1 billion. End-of-month inventories of durable goods increased 1.1% from December and were up 9.3% from last January. Compared to last month, inventories of motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and supplies were up 3.1% and inventories of machinery, equipment, and supplies increased 2.7%. End-of-month inventories of nondurable goods increased 0.1% from December and were up 9.0% compared to last January. Inventories of beer, wine, and distilled alcoholic beverages were up 3.1% from last month, while inventories of petroleum and petroleum products decreased 3.2%.

Inventories/Sales Ratio

The January inventories/sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers'' sales branches and offices, based on seasonally adjusted data, was 1.19. The January 2006 ratio was 1.16.


Available at:

http://www.census.gov/mwts/www/currentwhl.html