2010.11.1510:27:00UTC+00U.S. Business Inventory Growth Matches Estimates In September

Business inventories in the U.S. increased in line with economist estimates in the month of September, the Commerce Department revealed in a report released on Monday, with the report also showing a modest increase in business sales.

The report showed that business inventories increased by 0.9 percent in September, matching the revised increase seen in August. The increase in inventories matched economists' expectations, while the growth in the previous month was upwardly revised from 0.6 percent.

The increase in business inventories in September was partly due to a significant increase in inventories at merchant wholesales, which rose by 1.5 percent. Inventories at retailers and manufacturers also rose by 0.8 percent and 0.7 percent, respectively.

Additionally, the Commerce Department said that business sales rose by 0.5 percent in September following a 0.3 percent increase in August.

Sales by retailers saw notable growth for the month, rising by 0.8 percent, while sales by both manufacturers and merchant wholesalers increased by 0.4 percent.

With inventories and sales both increasing in September, the total business inventories/sales ratio was unchanged from the previous month at 1.27. The ratio is down from 1.30 in September of 2009.

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