US DATA: Oct business inventories +0.8% vs +0.9% expected, with retail
inventories flat, partially offsetting the large gains in the mfg and
wholesale sectors. Retail mtr veh inv +0.2% when the sales gains slowed
from the spike in Sept, while retail inv ex mtr veh -0.1% on declines in
inventories at building materials stores, food stores, and department
stores. Also, an MNI calculation of retail inventories not included in
the published categories shows a 0.4% decline after -0.1% in Sept. Total
business inventories ex retail auto +0.9%. Business sales +0.7%, keeping
the inv/sales ratio unch at 1.27, but down from 1.29 a year ago.