Wholesale Inventories Dip 0.1% in September

Wholesale inventories dipped 0.1% in September, the first decline since 2009, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.

The inventories decrease which followed a revised 0.1% increase in August that was lower than originally estimated.

The September decrease was below economists’ median forecast of a 0.5% gain, Bloomberg reported.

Wholesale sales rose 0.5%, Commerce said.

Durable goods stockpiles climbed 0.4%, led by automobiles, machinery and lumber, Bloomberg said.

Wholesale inventories account for about a fourth of total business stockpiles, while retailers and factories account for the rest.