The Commerce Department announced on Thursday that business inventories rose 0.5 percent m-o-m in February, following a revised 0.4 percent m-o-m advance in January (originally a 0.3 percent m-o-m increase).

That was in line with economists’ forecast for a 0.5 percent m-o-m gain.

According to the report, inventories at manufacturers rose by 0.8 percent m-o-m, while stocks at wholesalers increased by 0.6 percent m-o-m. At the same time, stocks at retailers were flat m-o-m.

In y-o-y terms, business inventories decreased 0.7 percent in February.