Business inventories rose 1% in January, the most since May 2011, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.
The increase followed a revised 0.3% rise in December that was larger than previously reported. Sales at factories and wholesalers dipped 0.3% in January, after rising 0.4% the prior month.
The January inventories gain was larger than economists’ median forecast of a 0.5% increase, Bloomberg News reported.
Retailer inventories increased 1.5%, the most since May 2006.
When sales are growing, it usually means trucking faces additional demand to deliver goods and restock shelves.
