Business Inventories (March 2011)

Business Inventories increased by 0.9% in January to $1,453.1 billion, higher than the consensus estimate of a 0.8% increase. Business inventories had increased by 1.1% in December, and currently stand 9.1% more than January 2010 levels. The inventories/sales ratio was 1.23 at the end of January, compared to 1.25 recorded a year ago.