Reply #12: U.S. Feb. inventories rise 0.5%

[UpInArms]

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/newsfinder/pulseone.asp?dateid=38456.354196412-834151581&siteID=mktw&scid=0&doctype=806&

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - U.S. businesses added 0.5% to their inventories in February while their sales fell 0.4%, the Commerce Department said Thursday. The drop in sales was the largest since April 2003. The inventory-to-sales ratio rose to 1.31 in February from a record low 1.30 in January. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch expected inventories to rise about 0.6%. Much of the data in the report had already been released. One new piece of information: Retail inventories increased 0.3% in February, including no change in auto inventories.

8:30am 04/14/05 U.S. FEB. RETAIL INVENTORIES UP 0.3%

8:30am 04/14/05 U.S. FEB. BUSINESS SALES DOWN 0.4%, LOWEST IN 2 YEARS

8:30am 04/14/05 U.S. FEB. INVENTORY-SALES RATIO 1.31 VS. 1.30

8:30am 04/14/05 U.S. FEB. INVENTORIES UP 0.5% VS. 0.6% EXPECTED