The report (Table 1) breaks out sales by 12 regions, which include Canada. Two of the regions µ those including OK, AR, LA, TX and ID, AK, OR, WA µ have insufficient data.
Through the first eight months of 2000, overall median sales were up 5%. Average sales were up 5.91%.
Every region reporting displays positive numbers for the year. Up in New England (ME, NH, VT, MA, CT, RI), sales volumes are by far the strongest. Median sales have increased 18.96% over 1999, with average sales at 21.2%. The NY, NJ, PA region is next, showing median sales rising 10.52%, with an average of 9.33%
As the report notes, August sales went to extremes. Three regions experienced significant increases in sales vs. 99, while three regions had declines.
The CA, NV, AZ, HI region led the way in August with a vigorous 25.72% median jump in sales. The average increase was 23.67%. In the Rocky Mountain region (MT, WY, CO, NM, UT), median sales were up 19.05% with an average of 19.4%. The New England region chimed in with a median increase of 15.3% and an average of 17.58%.
On the down side, the OH, MI region fell 8.3% for the month (8.18% average). The Mid-Atlantic area (DE, MD, WV, VA, NC, SC, KY, TN, DC) dropped 2% (+1.94% average). The IN, IL, WI region was down 1.64% (+0.79% average).
The net effect, however, was that wholesalers overall gained 1.96% at median and 4.9% average µ not a bad month and not a bad year.
Publication date: 11/13/2000
