Business Inventories Gain for October, Sales Dip

December 13, 2006 11:45 AM, EST

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usiness inventories rose 0.4% in October, and business sales declined 0.2%, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The gain in the value of unsold goods at factories, retailers and wholesalers followed a 0.3% rise in September that was smaller than originally reported, Commerce said.

The gain matched economists’ forecasts, Bloomberg reported.

etail inventories, which account for a little over a third of all business stockpiles, were unchanged after decreasing 0.3% the previous month.

Auto dealers’ inventories dropped 0.6% in October after falling 1.4%. Auto sales rose 1% after a 0.9% gain in September, Commerce said.

When inventories and sales are growing, it usually means trucking is seeing additional demand to deliver goods and restock shelves.