The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey (AWTS) produced national estimates of total annual sales, e-commerce sales, end-of-year inventories, purchases, total operating expenses, gross margins, and commissions (for electronic markets, agents, and brokers) for wholesale businesses located in the United States.  Additionally, in years ending in "2" and "7," the survey also generated detailed operating expenses estimates through the Business Expenses Supplement (BES).  The estimates were released approximately 12 months after the collection year.

Data generated from this survey were often used by government agencies, private businesses, and researchers.  For example, AWTS served as a benchmark for the estimates produced from the Census Bureau's Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey (MWTS).  Additionally, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) utilized the estimates as an input to estimate sales and inventories for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).  To view all of the data products that stemmed from AWTS, choose the "Data" option from the menu on the left.

All files are in Adobe PDF file format and are for informational purposes only.   

Title 13, United States Code (U.S.C.), Sections 131 and 182, authorized the Census Bureau to conduct this survey.  Sections 224 and 225 provided for mandatory responses.

Title 13, United States Code, Section 9, requires the Census Bureau to keep your information CONFIDENTIAL and use your responses only to produce statistics.  The Census Bureau is not permitted to publicly release your responses in a way that could identify your business, organization, or institution.  Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, your data is protected from cybersecurity risks through screening of the systems that transmit your data.