U.S. ECONOMY

U.S. businesses stocked their shelves at the slowest pace in eight months during January, the Commerce Department said. Total inventories fell 0.2%, after rising 0.4% in December, for the biggest drop since a 0.6% decline in April 1998. The figures augur well for future production, as they signal robust consumer demand has been keeping goods from piling up on wholesalers’ shelves.