Wholesale Inventories Up 0.6 Percent

Wholesale inventories rose 0.6 percent in December, the Commerce Department reported, the biggest jump in a year, as companies sought to build stockpiles to keep up with accelerating sales in an expanding economy.
Feb. 20, 2004

Wholesale inventories rose 0.6 percent in December, the Commerce Department reported, the biggest jump in a year, as companies sought to build stockpiles to keep up with accelerating sales in an expanding economy.

The increase in inventories, to $294.5 billion, was led by autos and petroleum. It came after a 0.5 percent gain in November.

Sales climbed 1 percent after a 0.6 percent rise in November, the Commerce Department said. Inventories relative to sales dropped to 1.17 months’ supply from 1.18 in November.