Updated

STOCKPILES RISE: Wholesale inventories rose for the 18th straight month in June. Companies added more autos, machines and computers to their stockpiles.

SALES UP: Sales at the wholesale level rose 0.6 percent in June after posting a 0.3 percent decline in May. Sales have risen in 10 of the past 12 months.

OUTLOOK: Rising sales could give businesses more confidence to keep restocking their shelves. That could boost growth at a critical time when many fear the chances of another recession have increased.