Fastenal Co. reported fastener sales dropped 4.1% to $202.9 million (30.8% of overall sales) in May, nearly doubling April’s 2.2% rate of decline. A year earlier, May fastener sales decreased 0.6%.

Total May sales gained 1.5%% to $658.7 million. Daily sales improved 1.5% to $29.9 million. Sales in the U.S. grew 1.6%, while sales in Canada and Mexico increased 0.3%.

By end market, sales to heavy manufacturing customers rose 1.5%, with sales to non-residential construction customers falling 6.2% during May.

Fastenal’s full time workforce increased 3% during the month to 21,006 employees. Distribution / transportation personnel grew 4.5% to 3,171, while manufacturing personnel dropped 0.3% to 717 workers.

In the opening quarter of 2024, fastener sales fell 4.4% to $596.9 million (31.5% of overall sales). Web: fastenal.com