
Business inventory to sales ratio indicates the level of inventory that businesses currently maintain to meet a given sales volume. Over time, businesses have reduced inventory in relation to sales. Increased speed and reliability of transportation help businesses operate with smaller inventories.
| Business Inventory to Sales | Apr-02 | May-02 |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory/sales ratio | 1.35 | 1.36 |
| Inventory/sales ratio percent change from previous month | -2.17 | 0.74 |
NOTE: The Census Bureau released revised historical new orders data on July 15, 2002. This report reflects those revisions.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, as of July 15, 2002, available at: http://www.census.gov/mtis/www/mtis.html.