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Wholesale inventories rose 0.4% in September after a rise the prior month, the Commerce Department reported Nov. 15.

Sales increased 0.6% in September after a 0.4% rise the prior month. The rise in inventories followed a 0.8% rise in August.

Inventories excluding oil increased 0.5% in September.

Economists had called for a 0.4% gain in wholesale inventories, Bloomberg News reported.

Wholesale inventories account for about one-fourth of total business stockpiles. Retailers and factories account for the rest.