Sales by hardware and plumbing and heating equipment and supplies wholesalers in January were $13 billion, an increase of 0.3 percent from the revised December 2019 level, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report which was released in March.

Hardware and plumbing and heating equipment and supplies wholesalers reported total sales of $12.9 billion the previous month.

The data is after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences, but not for price changes.

The Census Bureau conducts a monthly wholesale trade survey in order to provide an up-to-date indication of sales and inventory trends for U.S. merchant wholesalers, excluding manufacturers' sales branches and offices.

The survey is considered to be a reliable measure of current economic activity.

Information requested in the survey includes monthly sales reports, end-of-month inventories, number of establishments covered by the report, and the ending date of the reporting period.