Businesses Add To Wholesale Inventories

Washington, DC, Dec. 9, 2009–U.S. businesses unexpectedly added to inventories at the wholesale level in October, breaking a string of 13 straight declines, according to the Commerce Department.

It was a sign that companies will begin restocking depleted store shelves, helping to boost the economic recovery.

The said thats wholesale inventories rose 0.3 percent in October. Economists had expected a 0.5 percent decline.

Sales at the wholesale level rose 1.2 percent in October, also stronger than the 0.7 percent rise economists expected.