Wholesale Inventories Rise 0.6%

Wholesale inventories increased 0.6% in October, while sales fell 1.2%, the biggest drop since June, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

The gain followed a 1.1% gain in September. Durable goods stockpiles rose 1%.

Economists had called for a 0.4% gain in October wholesale inventories, Bloomberg reported.

Wholesale inventories account for about one-fourth of total business stockpiles, while retailers and factories account for the rest.