Merchant Wholesalers, Except Manufacturers' Sales Branches and Offices: Nondurable Goods: Farm Product Raw Materials Inventories/Sales Ratio
This dataset tracks merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers' sales branches and offices: nondurable goods: farm product raw materials inventories/sales ratio over time.
Latest Value
1.14
Year-over-Year Change
-6.56%
Date Range
1/1/1992 - 6/1/2025
Summary
The Merchant Wholesalers, Except Manufacturers' Sales Branches and Offices: Nondurable Goods: Farm Product Raw Materials Inventories/Sales Ratio measures the inventory-to-sales ratio for farm product raw materials sold by wholesale merchants. This provides insight into supply chain dynamics and inventory management within the agricultural sector.
Analysis & Context
This economic indicator provides valuable insights into current market conditions and economic trends. The data is updated regularly by the Federal Reserve and represents one of the most reliable sources for economic analysis.
Understanding this metric helps economists, policymakers, and investors make informed decisions about economic conditions and future trends. The interactive chart above allows you to explore historical patterns and identify key trends over time.
About This Dataset
This economic indicator tracks the ratio of inventories to sales for wholesalers of farm product raw materials, such as grains, livestock, and other unprocessed agricultural commodities. It offers a window into the supply and demand balance for these essential inputs to food production and processing.
Methodology
The data is collected through monthly surveys of merchant wholesale trade establishments by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Historical Context
Policymakers and analysts monitor this ratio to assess the health of agricultural supply chains and make informed decisions about agricultural and trade policies.
Key Facts
- The inventory-to-sales ratio represents the number of months' worth of sales held in inventory.
- Wholesale inventories are an important indicator of economic activity and future production.
- This ratio helps monitor supply chain disruptions and inventory imbalances in the agricultural sector.
FAQs
Q: What does this economic trend measure?
A: This indicator measures the ratio of inventories to sales for wholesale merchants of unprocessed agricultural commodities, such as grains, livestock, and other farm product raw materials.
Q: Why is this trend relevant for users or analysts?
A: The inventory-to-sales ratio for farm product raw materials provides insight into supply chain dynamics and inventory management within the agricultural sector, which is crucial for policymakers and analysts to monitor.
Q: How is this data collected or calculated?
A: The data is collected through monthly surveys of merchant wholesale trade establishments by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Q: How is this trend used in economic policy?
A: Policymakers and analysts monitor this ratio to assess the health of agricultural supply chains and make informed decisions about agricultural and trade policies.
Q: Are there update delays or limitations?
A: The data is published monthly with a typical 6-week lag between the reference period and the release date.
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Citation
U.S. Federal Reserve, Merchant Wholesalers, Except Manufacturers' Sales Branches and Offices: Nondurable Goods: Farm Product Raw Materials Inventories/Sales Ratio (R4245IM163SCEN), retrieved from FRED.