Wholesalers are businesses that sell primarily to other businesses and institutions.
The 1992 sales total is an increase of 51 percent since 1987 for Washington's wholesalers. Nationwide, wholesale sales rose an estimated 26 percent over the five-year period. Ophthalmic goods wholesalers had the greatest percent increase, up 315 percent. Merchant wholesalers continued to be the largest wholesale channel in the state, accounting for 62 percent of total sales in 1992 compared with 62 percent in 1987. Merchant wholesalers take title to the goods they sell.