Companies in U.S. Kept Lid on Inventories as Sales Fell in March

Companies in the U.S. unexpectedly held inventories in check in March as sales fell by the most in nine months, an indication orders will rise as demand picks up.

Stockpiles were little changed in March for a second month, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey projected a 0.3 percent advance. Sales decreased 1.1 percent, the biggest retreat since June 2012.