11. Crude oil fell after a report of rising inventories signaled that routine refinery maintenance is slowing demand more than expected. 12. Economists blame the weak jobs figure on rising inventories, which cause manufacturers to slow down production and, thereby, use fewer workers. 13. Expectations that inflation will remain low were helped when rising inventories sent crude oil prices plunging. 14. He added, however, that rising inventories of PCs worldwide could also be a cause for concern in the future. 15. He also pointed to rising inventories of unsold homes that have been largely masked by strong sales. 16. Heating oil fell for the third day as forecasts for warmer weather in the U.S. and a report of rising inventories signalled weakening demand. 17. If the trend of rising inventories and weak sales continues, manufacturing could weaken as businesses scramble to liquidate stockpiles of unsold goods. 18. If the trend of rising inventories and weak sales continues, manufacturing orders and production could weaken as businesses scramble to liquidate stockpiles of unsold goods. 19. In addition, weak industrial shipments and rising inventories reflect weak demand, the agency said. 20. Industrial production, which still is the engine of the Japanese economy, continues modest growth, the agency said, although rising inventories remain a problem. |