The Economy

* Sales at the nation’s wholesalers increased 1% in February after falling a revised 0.9% in January. Wholesale inventories rose 0.6% in February, with most of the increase concentrated in nondurable goods--many of which are imported--such as apparel, the Commerce Department said. The inventory-to-sales ratio--which measures the time merchandise sits on shelves and in stock rooms--fell to 1.32 months in February from 1.33 months for January. Still, since a reading of 1.30 months in July 1998, inventories have piled up compared with sales.