Wholesale inventories fell 0.9 in September, the 13th consecutive monthly decline, the Commerce Department reported Friday.
Wholesale sales increased 0.7%, the sixth consecutive increase.
Economists expected inventories to fall 1.0% in September and sales to rise 0.6%, according to the median estimate provided by Thomson Reuters.
The inventories-to-sales ratio dropped to 1.18 from 1.20 in August.
Wholesale sales in August were revised to a 1.1% increase from a 1.0% gain, which was initially reported. August inventories were unrevised at a 1.3% decline.
Wholesale automotive sales decreased 3.6% as inventories increased 0.3%, reflecting the end of the “cash for clunkers” program. Automotive sales increased 7.6% in August.
