WASHINGTON – U.S. business inventories fell for the 11th straight month in December while sales were unchanged, the government said on Thursday in a further indication American firms were clearing shelves of stock.
Stocks at U.S. businesses fell 0.4 percent in December after a revised 1.2 percent drop the previous month, the Commerce Department said. The number was close to analyst expectations of a 0.5 percent fall.
Total business sales were unchanged on the month after posting a revised 1.6 percent drop in November. Sales at manufacturers rose 0.6 percent.
The stock-to-sales ratio was unchanged at 1.39 months, for the third month in a row.
Inventories at manufacturers dropped 0.6 percent while stocks at car dealers showed a modest rise of 0.1 percent. Retailers inventories fell 0.1 percent.
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