Business Inventories Edge Up 0.1%

Business inventories rose just 0.1% in August, while sales fell 0.4%, the Commerce Department said Friday.

The uptick of goods unsold at factories, retailers and wholesalers was the smallest since March and followed a 0.5% gain in July.

Analysts had forecast a 0.4% increase, Bloomberg reported.

When sales are growing, it usually means trucking is seeing additional demand to deliver goods and restock shelves.

Higher inventories mean goods are not being sold at a rapid pace, which could lower demand for trucking services.