The US Census Bureau announced Tuesday that both wholesale trade sales and inventories were up in the month of November. Overall sales were up 0.6 percent from October and up 11.3 percent from November 2010. Overall inventories were up 0.1 percent from October and up 10.9 percent from last year. The November 2011 sales/inventories ratio is 1.15 down 0.01 from November 2010.
More specifically, the adjusted automotive industry sales are down 1.5 percent from October, but up 22.6 percent over November 2010. The automotive industry inventories are down 1.7 percent from October, and up 14.4 percent over November 2010.
In the adjusted metals industry sales are up 1.6 percent from October and up 15.3 percent from November 2010. The metals industry inventories are up 1.0 percent and up 17.5 percent over November of last year.
Another industry seeing positive numbers is machinery. Adjusted sales are up 0.5 percent from October and up 14.4 percent from November 2010. Inventories are up 1.4 percent from October and up 12.6 percent from November of last year.