Grainger daily sales up in November

Grainger, the Lake Forest-based distributor of building-maintenance supplies, reported daily sales increased 2 percent in November over last year.

Results for the month included a 4 percentage point positive contribution from acquisitions and a 2 percentage point benefit from foreign exchange.

Sales were negatively affected by approximately 1 percentage point due to a decline in the sales of seasonal products. Excluding acquisitions, foreign exchange and the effects of seasonal products, daily sales for the company declined 3 percent.

W.W. Grainger Inc. with 2008 sales of $6.9 billion is a broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products serving businesses and institutions in the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, India, China and Panama.

Through an integrated network including more than 600 branches, 18 distribution centers and multiple Web sites, Grainger's employees help customers get the job done.

Daily Herald business writer Kim Mikus contributed to this story.