U.S. Inventories, Sales Post Gains in May

U.S. companies boosted inventories in May at the fastest pace in six months as businesses tried to keep up with robust sales. Stockpiles of goods on shelves and back lots nationwide rose by 0.8% in May, twice as fast as many analysts expected, to a seasonally adjusted $1.18 trillion, the Commerce Department said. May’s increase, the largest since a 0.9% rise in November, mostly reflected a big inventory buildup by retailers. At the same time, sales posted the biggest gain since March, rising a strong 1% to $895 billion, with manufacturers leading the way.