Wholesale sales decreased 1.2% to $56.0 billion in September, following increases in four of the previous five months. Declines were recorded in five subsectors, led by lower sales in the machinery, equipment and supplies and the miscellaneous subsectors.

In volume terms, wholesale sales decreased 1.5% in September.

Sales decreased in five of seven subsectors in September, accounting for 65% of total wholesale sales.

The machinery, equipment and supplies subsector recorded the largest decline in dollar terms in September, down 4.0% to $10.9 billion, its lowest level since April 2016. In September, three out of four industries posted declines, led by the other machinery, equipment and supplies (-7.8%) and the computer and communications equipment and supplies (-4.6%) industries.

Sales in the miscellaneous subsector declined 3.1% to $7.0 billion, following a 4.6% increase in August. While four of five industries reported declines, a 8.0% decrease in the agricultural supplies industry contributed the most to the downturn in September.