U.S. wholesale inventories revised higher in November

Warehouse workers deal with inventory stacked up to the ceiling at an ABT Electronics Facility in Glenview, Illinois, U.S. December 4, 2018. REUTERS/Richa Naidu

WASHINGTON, Jan 10 (Reuters) – U.S. wholesale inventories increased more than initially thought in November, suggesting that the restocking of warehouses likely contributed to economic growth last quarter.

The Commerce Department said on Monday that wholesale inventories rose 1.4%, instead of 1.2% as estimated last month. Stocks at wholesalers increased 2.5% in October.

Economists polled by Reuters had expected inventories would be unrevised. Wholesale inventories surged 15.9% in November from the year-earlier period.

Inventories are a key part of gross domestic product.

Motor vehicle inventories advanced 2.7% after rising 2.8% in October. Still, a global shortage of semiconductors is constraining motor vehicle production.

Wholesale inventories, excluding autos, increased 1.2% in November. This component goes into the calculation of GDP.

A slower pace of inventory drawdown in the third quarter accounted for the bulk of the 2.3% annualized rate of increase in GDP growth in the third quarter. Inventories were depleted in the first half of the year, and COVID-19 pandemic-related shortages are making it harder to replenish stocks.

The urgent need to restock is keeping manufacturing humming, but there are concerns among some economists that businesses wary of delays getting stock could order too much and end up with excess inventory, which could hurt the economic expansion.

Sales at wholesalers increased 1.3% in November after accelerating 2.5% in October.

At November’s sales pace it would take wholesalers 1.22 months to clear shelves, unchanged from October.

Reporting by Lucia Mutikani
Editing by Paul Simao

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