ECONOMY

Sales Data Show Continued Slow Growth: Wholesale sales were unchanged in April and inventories declined a scant 0.1%, the Commerce Department said. The department revised March sales from a decline of 0.2% to a sharp drop of 1.1%, which analysts said reflected harsh storms that month. Sales of durable goods fell 0.2% in April following a drop of 2.2% in March, while so-called non-durable goods showed an increase of 0.1% after being unchanged in the prior month. Motor vehicle and auto equipment sales, however, jumped 2.4%, partially reversing a 4.2% decline in March. Analysts said the new figures indicate that the economy continued to move ahead at a relatively slow pace in April.