PREVIEW / Some of the Business and Economic Events Happening Today : Numbers Up?

The Commerce Department today reports on wholesale inventories for February, and analysts predict they probably increased 0.2% after falling 0.2% in January, a sign the nation’s wholesalers expect demand to increase.

* The private research group the Conference Board issues its leading economic indicators for February. The group’s LEI index, which measures future economic activity, rose 0.5% in January after a 0.2% gain in December.

* Ford Motor Co. is due to release its March sales figures today, and analysts predict continuing strength from U.S. auto makers. The industry reported Monday that U.S. sales of North American-made cars and light trucks rose 8.4% in March, to 465,063, from a year ago. For the year through March 31, sales rose 10.5% to 1.2 million.