Wholesale Inventories Rise in November

Wholesale inventories edged up 0.1% in November, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.

The inventories increase followed a revised 1.2% gain in October that was smaller than previously estimated.

The November increase fell short of economists’ median forecast of a 0.5% gain, Bloomberg reported.

Wholesale sales rose 0.6%, Commerce said.

Durable goods stockpiles rose 0.1%, led by electrical equipment and machinery, Bloomberg said.

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