A container is loaded onto a ship from China at Massport's Conley Terminal in the port of Boston, Friday, July 13, 2012. The Commerce Department reports Thursday March 13, 2014 how much companies adjusted their stockpiles in January. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
March 13, 2014 - 7:08 AM
WASHINGTON - U.S. businesses continued to restock their shelves and warehouses in January, but sales plunged during the snowstorm-plagued month.
The Commerce Department says inventories rose 0.4 per cent after a 0.5 per cent increase in December. But sales dropped 0.9 per cent in January after a 0.1 per cent decrease the previous month, putting sales back near September 2013 levels.
The report suggests that winter weather kept shoppers at home. But businesses anticipate a rebound because they expanded their inventories to meet expected demand in the months ahead.
Still, there is a possible danger to economic growth: When companies build their stockpiles as their sales fall, they may end up stuck with more goods than they need.
That potentially forces them to slash prices and sell at discounts in order to clear the extra inventory.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014