The Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that the combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers' shipments for September adjusted for seasonal and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were estimated at $762.6 billion, up 1.3 percent (+/—0.2%) from August and were 5.3 percent (+/—0.4%) above September 1996. Total durable goods increased 1.7 percent (+/—0.3%) from August and were 6.8 percent (+/—0.8%) above September 1996. Total nondurable goods increased 0.8 percent (+/—0.2%) from August and were up 3.8 percent (+/—0.7%) from September 1996.

Manufacturers' and trade inventories, adjusted for seasonal variations, but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $1,037.4 billion, up 0.7 percent (+/—0.1%) from August and 3.8 percent (+/—0.7%) above September 1996. Total durable goods increased 0.7 percent (+/—0.2%) from August and were up 4.1 percent (+/—1.1%) from September 1996. Total nondurable goods increased 0.7 percent (+/—0.1%) from August and were up 3.4 percent (+/—0.6%) from September 1996.

The total business inventories/sales ratio based on seasonally adjusted data at the end of September was 1.36. The September 1996 ratio was 1.38.

November 18, 1997U.S. Department of Commerce

Statistics
EXPORT SALES REPORT | REDBOOK RETAIL AVERAGES
CHICAGO BOT DELIVERABLE GRAIN STOCKS | U.S. EXPORT INSPECTIONS
HOLIDAY SPENDING WILL MODERATELY EXCEED 1996 LEVELS
CATTLE ON FEED | LIVESTOCK MONTHLY
HOUSING STARTS AND BUILDING PERMITS IN OCTOBER 1997
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GOODS AND SERVICES
MANUFACTURING AND TRADE INVENTORIES AND SALES SUMMARY SEPTEMBER 1997
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX OCTOBER 1997
U.S. IMPORT AND EXPORT PRICE INDEXES–OCTOBER 1997
REAL EARNINGS IN OCTOBER 1997
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
Consensus National Futures and Financial On Line Index

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