Wholesale companies increased their stockpiles for the 15th straight month in March, a sign they expect future sales gains. The Commerce Department says supply levels at warehouses rose 1.1% in March. Sales among wholesalers increased 2.9% and have risen in eight of the last nine months. Wholesale inventories are at the highest level since November 2008. They have increased 15.5% from September 2009, the low point since the recession began. Sales are at their highest level since June 2008. The report suggests that factory output will likely increase in the coming months to keep pace with sales. The inventory-to-sales ratio, which measures stockpiles as a proportion of sales, dropped to 1.13 in March. That matches the figure for June 2008, the lowest on records dating from 1992.
Wholesale companies boosted inventories in March
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