ASA member wholesaler-distributors reported a median sales growth of 10.7% for the month ending March 31, 2015 compared to the same month last year, ASA’s Monthly Pulse Report shows.

Calendar year-to-date, all respondents reported a median sales increase of 7.6%; however respondents in the industrial PVF segment reported only a 2.1% increase. The median increase for the trailing twelve months is 7.3% for all respondents.

Overall, the median increase in inventories was 4.5% for March, 2015 vs. 2014. The median three-month average days sales outstanding increased to 45.5 days for PHCP respondents but decreased to 44.0 and 45.0 days, respectively for PVF and PHCP & PVF respondents.  66.3% of all participating members reported having more Full-Time Equivalent employees compared to a year ago.

 47.5% of PHCP respondents and 75.0% of PVF respondents reported company’s gross margin percentages for the month are up compared to the same in 2014. YTD profit before taxes are reported up for 67.5% of PHCP respondents as well as for 50.0% of PVF respondents compared to one year ago.