Business Inventories Rise by Most Since May 2011

Business inventories rose 1% in January, the most since May 2011, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The increase followed a revised 0.3% rise in December that was larger than previously reported. Sales at factories and wholesalers dipped 0.3% in January, after rising 0.4% the prior month.

The January inventories gain was larger than economists’ median forecast of a 0.5% increase, Bloomberg News reported.

Retailer inventories increased 1.5%, the most since May 2006.

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