ASA member wholesaler-distributors reported a median sales increase of 4.0 percent for the month ending December 31, 2016, compared to the same month in 2015.

Calendar year-to-date, all respondents reported median sales growth of 4.7 percent, and the median increase for the trailing twelve months is also 4.7 percent. Inventory rose 1.8 percent compared to prior year, and the median three-months average days sales outstanding dropped from 44.0 to 42.0 days. Over half of the respondents reported an increase in gross margin percentages for December, 2016 versus 2015, and company YTD profit before taxes increased for 56.0 percent of the total sample.

The percentage of respondents having more Full-Time Equivalent employees increased from 45.8 percent in November to 49.4 percent in December.

Industrial pipe-valve-fitting (PVF) distributors reported a median sales decrease of 1.2 percent for the month compared to December 2015. Calendar year-to-date, PVF respondents reported a median sales increase of 6.0 percent, and the median increase for the trailing twelve months is also 6.0 percent. Inventories grew 4.0 percent compared to prior year, and the median three-months average DSOs decreased slightly from 43.4 days in November to 43.0 in December. PVF respondents reporting an increase in company YTD profit before taxes decreased from 50.0 percent in November to 47.1 percent in December.