Global economy remains fragile; high-income countries suffering from slow growth. 
Providing information, analysis, and advice on global trends in the world economy. 
Now free. Daily and monthly updates on global economic developments and relevant topical issues. 
Prospects Daily: U.S. wholesale inventories rise; sales decrease
Important developments today:
1. U.S. wholesale inventories up, but sales have minor setback
U.S. wholesale inventories up, but sales have minor setback. Wholesale businesses boosted inventories for a 14th consecutive month in February, but sales at wholesale outlets, particularly of cars and furniture, declined [see Chart at http://gem or http://www.worldbank.org/gem]. The latest report from the Commerce Department showed sales at the wholesale level slipping 0.8% (m/m) in February, the first setback in sales since June 2009. Sales had increased 3.3% (m/m) in January, and a slowdown in demand was largely anticipated after a brisk fourth quarter. Inventories rose 1% and have been rising for more than a year. The string of inventory gains pushed them to $438 billion, up 13.4% from the low in September 2009. The weaker pace of sales pushed up the inventory-sales ratio from 1.14 in January to 1.16 months in February.
Among emerging markets
In Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS, Turkey's seasonally adjusted industrial output fell 1.7% (m/m) in February, compared with monthly growth of 0.5% in January. Output was up 13.9% over February 2010, and the marginal decline in production in the latest month will ease concerns of an overheating economy, which grew 9.2% in the Q4-2010.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, Mozambique's economy grew 6.5% according to the International Monetary Fund, with 13.8% inflation for the year due to food and fuel costs.