Inventory Growth Held To Small Gain

Businesses held inventory growth in June to the smallest gain in 15 months, suggesting to some analysts that the economy entered the second half of the year with little risk of falling into recession.

Economists had been concerned that as sales slowed earlier in the year, businesses would be caught with excess stocks on their shelves and backlots, leading to major production cuts and lost jobs.

The Commerce Department said Monday that inventories edged up just 0.2 percent in June, the smallest advance since stockpiles fell 1 percent in March 1994.