ASA member wholesaler-distributors reported a median sales increase of 5.7% for the month ending Aug. 31, compared to the same month in 2016. Calendar year-to-date, all respondents reported median sales growth of 5.4% and the median increase for the trailing 12 months is 5.3%.
Inventory rose 4.1% compared to prior year and the median three-months average days sales outstanding decreased from 44.9 to 43.7 days. Only 41.9% of respondents reported an increase in gross margin percentages for the month of August vs. 2016 and company YTD profit before taxes increased for 54.7% of the total sample. The percentage of respondents having more full-time equivalent employees compared to a year ago declined from 63.8% in July to 51.8% in August.