Fastenal Co. reported fastener sales dropped 4.2% during November, while non-fastener product sales rose 4.2%.

Overall sales at Fastenal increased 6.3% to $316.8 million in November, with daily sales up 1.2% to $15.1 million.

Sales to manufacturing customers gained 1.3%, while sales to non-residential construction customers declined 1%.

Overall headcount dipped 4.7% to 17,797, which included a 9.6% drop in manufacturing personnel and a 2.7% increase in distribution personnel.

Fastenal’s fastener sales declined 2.9% in the third quarter of 2016, marking a year of ongoing reductions in fastener revenues.

Fastener sales declines in previous quarters include a 2.4% drop in Q2; a 1.7% decline in Q1; a 6.2% decline in the final quarter of 2015; and a 4.4% drop in the third quarter of 2015.

Fastenal has opened three stores since October 1.

During the first nine months of 2016, Fastenal opened 35 stores while closing or consolidating 99 stores during the same period. The company expects to open approximately 40 stores in total in 2016, which is an annual rate of approximately 2%. Web: fastenal.com