Wholesale inventories post biggest rise in two years

Washington

US wholesale inventories in November rose slightly more than previously reported, posting their largest gain in two years and suggesting inventory investment would again support economic growth in the fourth quarter.

The Commerce Department said on Tuesday wholesale inventories rose one per cent after slipping 0.1 per cent in October. That was the largest increase since November 2014. The department reported last month that wholesale inventories rose 0.9 per cent in November.

The component of wholesale inventories that goes into the calculation of gross domestic product (GDP) - wholesale stocks excluding cars - increased 0.7 per cent i…