January 2022 results of ASA’s monthly sales report reflect another month of robust performance compared to the same month a year ago, though most respondents reported declines in sales when compared to December 2021, noted Industry Insights, ASA’s business intelligence partner that prepares the report each month for ASA member distributors. 

For the trailing 12 months ending January 2022, sales remained strong when compared against much of 2020, a year that had multiple weeks, if not months, of closures or partial closures.

Respondents to the monthly sales report survey reported a median sales increase of 20.9% for January 2022 vs. January 2021.
In comparison to the previous month, however, January 2022 vs. December 2021, respondents reported a significant decline in sales of -8.9%.  

Half the respondents reported sales growth for the trailing 12 months between 15.5% to 29.6%.
Inventory jumped 37% for January 2022 vs. January 2021. The median three-months average days sales outstanding remained steady at 40 days for January.  

“It was another strong month in terms of year-over-year sales performance, though it is concerning that the January vs. December figures were down for most respondents,” Industry Insights Senior Vice President Greg Manns said.  

Industrial PVF

Industrial PVF distribution firm respondents to the monthly sales report showed a median sales increase of 36.8% for January 2022 vs. January 2021. On a trailing-twelve-month basis, industrial PVF respondents reported a median sales increase of 25.7%. Inventory rose 35.5% for January 2022 vs. January 2021, while the three-months-average days sales outstanding rose decently to 51.1 for industrial PVF respondents.

Economic indicators

The “Real GDP” figure for the fourth quarter of 2021 was revised up slightly to 7.0% growth. Total wholesale sales for December grew 21.8% year-over-year, while inventories grew 18.5% vs. the prior year. Though housing starts declined in January, housing permits recorded an increase for the fourth consecutive month. The unemployment rate for January edged up to 4.0% and initial claims for unemployment increased slightly in January, but remained below 300,000 for the fourth consecutive month.