Wholesale companies boosted inventories in March

Source: AP

By CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Wholesale companies increased their stockpiles for the 15th straight month in March, a sign they expect future sales gains.

Supply levels at warehouses rose 1.1 percent in March, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Sales among wholesalers increased 2.9 percent and have risen in eight of the last nine months.

Wholesale inventories are at the highest level since November 2008. They have increased 15.5 percent from September 2009, the low point since the recession. Sales are at their highest level since June 2008.

Companies boosted their stockpiles of industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals, clothes and groceries. Inventories of autos and auto parts fell 0.5 percent. Sales at the wholesale level rose for every category except autos.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110510/D9N4KOBO0.html

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In this April 23, 2011 photo, a shopper looks at televisions at Costco in Mountain View, Calif. Wholesale companies increased their inventories for the 15th straight month in March, a sign they expect future sales gains. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

.....Or present sales arent sufficient to draw down inventories.