Economists missed the wholesale trade report numbers by a mile. The Econoday Consensus Estimate for today’s trade numbers was +0.2% in a range of 0.0% to 0.4%. The actual report (for October) came in at -0.1%. 

That’s bad enough, but some of the much touted inventory build for 3rd quarter (See Wholesale Trade Inventories Surge Led By Autos) did not happen.

Last month’s report had me scratching my head. I certainly didn’t expect such a jump. And it didn’t happen. Today, September inventories were revised from +0.5% to +0.2%.

From Econoday 

 Wholesale inventories fell 0.1 percent in October against no change for sales, keeping the stock-to-sales ratio for this sector unchanged at 1.31. Wholesale inventories are on the heavy side as this ratio is well up from 1.22 this time last year. Year-on-year, inventories are up 3.6 percent which is well ahead of a 3.7 percent decline for sales.

Inventory builds reflecting falling sales include metals and autos, though strong sales of the latter at the retail level point to a bounce back for related wholesale sales. Inventory draws reflecting rising sales include furniture, apparel, and farm products.

Businesses including wholesalers watch their inventory levels carefully, limiting unwanted overhang as much as they can especially when sales are slow. The decline in October inventories, together with a sizable 3-tenth downward revision to September to plus 0.2 percent, may be negatives for third-quarter GDP but are positives for the production and employment outlooks. Watch Friday for the business inventories report which will include data from the retail sector.

Positives for Production?

Bloomberg comments “[Wholesale trade inventories] may be negatives for third-quarter GDP but are positives for the production and employment outlooks.“

Let’s investigate that claim with a dive into the actual Census Report on Wholesale Trade for a chart and more details.

Inventories to Sales

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Related Posts