December Inventories Up Less Than Forecast

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U.S. wholesale inventories rose a smaller-than-expected 0.4 percent in December, drained by rising sales of automobiles, machinery and computer equipment., the Commerce Department said Wednesday.


Analysts had expected wholesale inventories to rise 0.9 percent in December. November’s inventory gain was revised slightly higher to a 1.2 percent advance, from a first-reported 1.1 percent increase.


Inventories of durables goods, big-ticket items meant to last three years or more, rose 0.3 percent in December after rising 1.3 percent the previous month. Sales jumped 2.3 percent, the most since March, after rising 1.5 percent.


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