Wholesale Inventories Up Most Since 2011

Washington, DC, March 8, 2013 -- Wholesale inventories rose 1.2% in January, which was the fastest rate since December 2011, according to the Commerce Department.

However, sales fell for the first time in three months.

Economists expected wholesale inventories to rise 0.3%.

The value of lumber stocks grew 3.4% in January, while computer equipment inventories rose 3.2%.

But sales at wholesalers fell 0.8%.