ASA member wholesaler-distributors reported a median sales increase of 8% for the month ending Nov. 30, compared to the same month in 2016.

Calendar year-to-date, all respondents reported median sales growth of 6.1% and the median increase for the trailing 12 months is 6.4%. Inventory rose 6.0% compared to prior year, and the median three-month average days sales outstanding edged up from 43.1 days in October to 43.6 days.

Forty percent of the respondents reported an increase in gross margin percentages for the month of November versus 2016, and company YTD profit before taxes increased for 65.8% of the total sample. The percentage of respondents having more full-time-equivalent employees compared to a year ago increased from 60.7% in October to 62.5% in November.

Industrial pipe-valve-fitting distributors reported a median sales increase of 8.9% for the month compared to November 2016. Calendar year-to-date, PVF respondents reported a median sales increase of 5.0%, and the median increase for the trailing 12 months was 6.3%. Inventories grew 4% compared to the prior year and the median three-month average DSOs increased from 42.5 days in October to 43.4 days in November.

PVF respondents reporting an increase in company YTD profit before taxes rose from 50.0% in October to 58.8% in November.