The American Supply Association’s Quarterly Pulse shows member distributors reported a median sales increase of 6.7% for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018.

For the calendar year-to-date, respondents reported a median sales growth of 6.7%. For the trailing 12 months ending March 31, respondents reported a median sales growth of 8.0%.

Inventory rose 4.7% for the first quarter of 2019 vs. the first quarter of 2018. The median three-months-average days sales outstanding was 45 days in the first quarter.

Just over 46% of survey participants reported an increase in gross-margin percentage for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018.

Company year-to-date profit before tax increased for 68.7% of respondents. About two-thirds (63.2%) of respondents reported having more full-time-equivalent employees vs. a year ago.

In terms of the industrial PVF side of the industry, member industrial PVF distributors reported a median sales increase of 5.5% for the first quarter of 2019 compared to the first quarter of 2018.

For the trailing 12 months ending March 31, respondents reported a median sales growth of 12.0%.

Inventory rose 6.4% for the first quarter of 2019 vs. the first quarter of 2018. The median three-months-average days sales outstanding was 45.5 days in the first quarter.

56.3% of industrial PVF survey respondents reported an increase in gross-margin percentage in the first quarter compared to Q1 in 2018, while 43.8% reported downward movement in that category.

Company year-to-date profit before tax increased for 68.8% of respondents. And 70.6% of survey respondents reported having more full-time-equivalent employees vs. a year ago.