US wholesalers boost stockpiles 0.6 per cent in October but sales fall 1.2 per cent

WASHINGTON – U.S. wholesale businesses increased their stockpiles in October but their sales fell sharply, a mix sign for economic growth.

The Commerce Department says stockpiles grew 0.6 per cent in October. That’s slower than September’s 1.1 per cent, which was the biggest gain in nine months.

Sales in October fell 1.2 per cent, after rising 1.9 per cent in September

An increase in restocking leads to more factory production, which boosts economic growth. Faster restocking helped lift growth in the July-September quarter to an annual rate of 2.7 per cent.

But slower sales could force companies to cut back on restocking in coming months, which would slow growth in the October-December quarter. And companies may be worried about looming tax increases that will take effect without a budget agreement to avert them.

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Martin Crutsinger

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