Grainger sales drop 10 percent in May

Grainger's May 2009 sales dropped 10 percent versus May 2008
Victoria Fraza Kickham -- Industrial Distribution, 6/8/2009 1:14:01 PM

Grainger reported today that its May 2009 sales for the United States versus last May dropped 10 percent, largely due to weak demand across all customer end-markets and geographies. Foreign exchange negatively affected sales by about two percentage points.

Sales from pandemic related products as a result of the H1N1 virus outbreak positively affected sales by one percentage point.

Sales in Canada during May dropped 14 percent compared to May 2008. One percent of that drop was reflected in local currency. Grainger's other businesses dropped 17 percent.