Inventories-to-sales ratio holds steady in August
October 14, 2011
Inventories relative to sales were virutaly unchanged in August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The inventories-to-sales ratio throughout the economy was 1.28 on a seasonally adjusted basis. The Census Bureau revised upward its initial estimate of a 1.27 inventories-to-sales ratio in July. If the preliminary August estimate holds, the ratio will hold steady for three straight months at a level not much higher than the all-time low of 1.25 recorded in March. The continuation of lean inventories is good news for trucking companies because it indicates that businesses are maintaining normal replenishment cycles and that any uptick in sales should translate into shipments.
Inventories rose at a slightly higher rate than sales in August but not enough to affect materially the inventories-to-sales ratio. The combined value of distributive trade sales and manufacturers’ shipments adjusteded for seasonal and trading-day differences but not for price changes edged up 0.3% from July to $1.2 trillion. The value of manufacturers’ and trade inventories rose 0.5% to $1.54 trillion.
The inventories-to-sales ratio at manufacturers and retailers in August was 1.34 while the ratio at merchant wholesalers was 1.16. Drilling down to broad categories of retail establishments, the highest seasonally adjusted inventories-to-sales ratio in August was 2.42 at clothing stores — higher than both July 2011 and August 2010. Automobile and parts dealers as well as department stores had ratios of 2.02. The leanest ratio, as usual, was at food and beverage outlets, where the ratio was 0.76, according to Census Bureau figures.
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Upgrade to a Premium MemberRecent Indicators
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May 30, 2012
Truck loadings disappoint in March
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August 31, 2012
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June 19, 2012
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Diesel price dips slightly to $3.845
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Diesel price dips slightly to $3.845
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July 26, 2012
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New Truck Order Activity
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Trucking Conditions Index rises sharply
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Industrial Production Outlook
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Diesel Outlook
Diesel prices increase faster than expected
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Diesel price outlook moves lower
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Housing Starts
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March 19, 2013
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Business Inventories-to-Sales
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Sales outpace inventories in November
January 15, 2013
Inventories-to-sales ratio holds steady
January 12, 2012
Inventories relative to sales are lean and steady
December 13, 2011
Inventories grow leaner relative to sales
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Durable goods orders fall 5.7%
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Durable goods orders up 4.6%
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Retail sales up in November
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Retail sales nearly flat in April
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ISM Manufacturing Index
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ISM: Manufacturing growth slows in March
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ISM: Manufacturing sector strong in February
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ISM index rises in January
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ISM manufacturing index rises in December
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Driver Labor Index
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FTR Driver Labor Index drops in July
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FTR Driver Labor Index ticks up
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FTR Driver Labor Index jumps
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September 13, 2012
Driver shortage rises slightly in Q2
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New Truck Order Activity
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Truck Utilization Outlook
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Truck utilization unchanged in June
July 26, 2012
Truck utilization steady in May
July 2, 2012
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Intermodal Loadings Outlook
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September 13, 2012
Intermodal loadings up 0.2% in June
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Intermodal loadings strong in May
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Intermodal loadings growth below expectations
June 6, 2012
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Intermodal Rates Outlook
Intermodal rates slowed during 2011
June 12, 2012
Intermodal rates are staying strong
October 5, 2011
Intermodal rates accelerated during Q2
August 31, 2011
Intermodal rates have eased recently, but will stay strong
July 11, 2011
Intermodal rates remain strong, ready to surge
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West Coast Port Activity
Port activity fell in July
September 5, 2012
Port activity up for 4th straight month
August 8, 2012
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July 9, 2012
Port activity strong in April
June 12, 2012
Port activity rebounded in March
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Dry Van
Dry van loadings continue growth in July
September 27, 2012
Dry van loadings up in June, Q2 revised higher
July 25, 2012
Dry van loadings up 0.3% in May
July 5, 2012
Dry van loadings up 0.7% in April
May 31, 2012
Dry van loadings flat in March
May 3, 2012
Refrigerated
Refrigerated loadings rebound 0.6% in July
September 27, 2012
Refrigerated loadings drop 0.5% in June
July 25, 2012
Refrigerated loadings up 0.2% in May
July 5, 2012
Refrigerated loadings up in April but outlook reduced
May 31, 2012
Refrigerated loadings flat in Q1
May 3, 2012
Flatbed
Flatbed loadings surge 1.9% in July
September 27, 2012
Flatbed loadings up 0.4% in June
July 25, 2012
Flatbed loadings up 0.6% in May
July 5, 2012
Flatbed rebounded 1.7% in April
May 31, 2012
Flatbed loadings drop in March
May 3, 2012
Tank
Tank loadings drop 0.2% in July
September 27, 2012
Tank loadings jump 1.1% in June
July 25, 2012
Tank loadings unchanged in May
July 5, 2012
Tank loadings jump in April
June 4, 2012
Tank loadings dip in March
May 3, 2012
Bulk / Dump
Bulk/dump loadings jump 1.3% in July
September 27, 2012
Bulk/dump loadings down 0.6% in June
July 25, 2012
Bulk/dump loadings up 0.2% in May
July 5, 2012
Bulk/dump loadings up in April
June 4, 2012
Bulk/dump loadings drop sharply
May 3, 2012
Automotive loadings fall 2.7% in July
September 27, 2012
Bulk aggregates loadings up 1.1% in July
September 27, 2012
Construction loadings improve in July
September 27, 2012
Chemical loadings better than expected, still down
September 27, 2012
Food loadings up 0.5% in July
September 27, 2012
Dry Van
Dry van rates are easing but still strong
April 25, 2012
Dry van rates hit double-digit gains in Q2
September 1, 2011
Dry Van rates are improving, should be strong this fall
June 7, 2011
Refrigerated
Refrigerated rates remain relatively stable
May 3, 2012
Growth in refrigerated rates remains stable
September 1, 2011
Reefer rates are growing, outlook is slightly less robust
June 7, 2011
Flatbed
Flatbed rates stay strong to start 2012
April 25, 2012
Flatbed rates are staying strong
October 5, 2011
Flatbed rates continue to remain strong
July 18, 2011
Tank
Tank rates are down so far in 2011
September 8, 2011
Tank rates have been weak, finally growing
May 11, 2011
Bulk / Dump
Intermodal
Intermodal rates slowed during 2011
June 12, 2012
Intermodal rates are staying strong
October 5, 2011
Intermodal rates accelerated during Q2
August 31, 2011
Intermodal rates have eased recently, but will stay strong
July 11, 2011
Intermodal rates remain strong, ready to surge
May 11, 2011
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