The American Supply Association’s Pulse report shows member distributors reported a median sales increase of 5% for the second quarter of 2019 vs. the second quarter of 2018.

Calendar year-to-date, respondents reported a median sales growth of 3.9%. For the trailing 12 months ending June 30, 2019, respondents reported a median sales growth of 6.8%.

Inventory rose 6% for the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2018. The median three-months average days sales outstanding was 44 days in the second quarter.

Just under 51% of respondents reported an increase in gross-margin percentages for the second quarter of 2019 vs. the second quarter of 2018.

Company year-to-date profit before tax increased for 55.1% of the respondents. About two-thirds (67.1%) of respondents reported having more full-time-equivalent employees compared to a year ago.

In the industrial PVF realm, respondents reported a median sales increase of 5.2% for the second quarter of 2019 vs. the second quarter of 2018. Calendar year-to-date, respondents reported a median sales growth of 4.5%. For the trailing 12 months ending June 30, 2019, respondents reported a median sales growth of 6.1%.

Inventory rose 8.3% for the second quarter of 2019 compared to the second quarter of 2018 for industrial PVF respondents.