The Commerce Department announced on Friday that business inventories increased 0.5 percent m-o-m in May, following a revised 0.1 percent m-o-m gain in April (originally a 0.2 percent m-o-m fall).

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

According to the report, inventories at wholesalers climbed 1.3 percent m-o-m, while that at manufacturers rose 0.9 percent m-o-m. At the same time, stocks at retailers declined 0.8 percent m-o-m, while

In y-o-y terms, business inventories surged 4.5 percent in May.