U.S. wholesale inventories increased by the most in 13 months in February, boosted by sharp rises in the stocks of professional and electrical equipment, government data showed on Thursday.

Stocks at wholesalers rebounded 0.8%, the largest increase since January 2025, after falling 0.3% in January, the Commerce Department's Census Bureau said on Thursday.

Inventories, a key part of gross domestic product, increased 1.8% on a year-over-year basis in February. The rise, if sustained in March, could see inventories adding to GDP growth in the first quarter.

Shelves are stacked with merchandise at a Wal-Mart Stores Inc company distribution center in Bentonville, Arkansas. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

The Census Bureau is still catching up on data releases following delays caused by last year's government shutdown.

Stocks of professional equipment increased 0.8% while those of electrical products shot up 1.5%.

Business inventories made a small contribution to the 0.5% annualized GDP growth pace in the fourth quarter. The economy grew at a 4.4% pace in the July-September quarter.

Sales at wholesalers increased 2.7% in February after rising 1.1% in January. At February's sales pace it would take 1.22 months to clear shelves, down from 1.25 months in January. The inventories/sales ratio was at 1.31 months in February 2025.