Wholesale sales rose 2.5% to $55.4 billion in December. Higher sales were recorded in six of seven subsectors, representing 80% of wholesale sales. The motor vehicle and parts subsector as well as the miscellaneous subsector led the gains. In volume terms, wholesale sales increased 2.4%. The motor vehicle and parts subsector recorded the largest gain in dollar terms in December, rising 5.5% to $10.1 billion. A third consecutive monthly increase in the motor vehicle industry (+9.0%), in part due to a shift in seasonal sales, accounted for most of the gain. December's sales were the highest on record for both this ... (full story)