Wholesale Inventories Up Less Than Expected

Washington, DC, May 9, 2012 -- Wholesale inventories rose less than expected in March, according to the Commerce Department.

Total inventories increased 0.3% to a record $480.4 billion, the government said, after an unrevised 0.9% rise in February.

Economists had expected stocks to rise 0.6% in March.

In March, sales at wholesalers rose 0.5% after rising 1.1% in February. Economists had expected sales to increase 0.7% in March.