The U.S. Commerce Department reported that business inventories rose 0.3% during November following a 0.8% rise in October. Business sales also rose 0.3%. As a result, the inventory/sales ratio held at 1.27 for the fourth straight month. For November, inventories were 8.5% higher than one year earlier, and sales were up 9.6%.

In the retail sector, inventories rose 0.3% m/m after an upwardly revised 0.2% October gain. Motor vehicle & parts inventories increased a moderate 0.6% (3.3% y/y) while excluding autos inventories gained 0.2% (4.2% y/y). Inventories of building materials fell 0.4% (+1.8% y/y) and food & beverage store inventories ticked up 0.1% (5.6% y/y). Apparel inventories also rose 0.3% (10.8% y/y), furniture & equipment rose 0.2% (-2.4% y/y) and no change (3.8% y/y) at general merchandise stores. Wholesale inventories ticked up 0.1% led by a 1.5% rise (16.4% y/y) in petroleum. Less petroleum wholesale inventories also rose 0.1% (10.2% y/y). Factory inventories rose a firm 0.5% (10.9% y/y). 

The manufacturing and trade data are in Haver's USECON database. Note that in a value-added feature, the database includes series calculated by Haver database managers showing sales, inventories and I/S ratios for total business less motor vehicle dealers and related wholesale operations.