stockpiles

Economic growth is picking up in the final three months of the year, fueled by higher consumer spending, rising business stockpiles and modest increases in hiring.

Wholesalers have been adding to their stockpiles for nearly two years, gains that have helped to support modest economic growth.

China's environmental regulators say they plan to crack down on dumping and improper storage of hazardous materials, with special attention to heavy metals and electronic waste.

Businesses added to their stockpiles for a 17th consecutive month in May, economists say, but a slowdown could be coming as companies trim unwanted inventories.

Gainers

• United States Oil (NYSE: USO) up 2.44 percent to $37.31. Crude trading higher following inventory data today.
  
  Stockpiles fell by 4.4 million to 359.50 million barrels. Analysts were looking for a more modest drop of 1.7 million.
  
  WTI August contracts are up $2.05 to $94.94 per barrel on the Comex.
• Market Vectors Agribusiness ETF (NYSE: MOO) up 2.25 percent to $53.62.

STOCKPILES UP: Businesses added to their stockpiles for a 12th consecutive month in December, pushing them up 0.8 percent to $1.44 trillion.

Despite the recent price surge in crude oil this week, basically going from $81.50 to $87 a barrel within this week--thanks to a Fed's QE2-induced weak dollar-- oil inventories actually added another 2 million barrels build to the current stockpiles.

WASHINGTON - Signs of a strengthening global recovery emerged Friday, with consumers boosting retail sales, companies restoring stockpiles and Chinese exports mounting a comeback.

Businesses slashed inventories for a 13th consecutive month in September although the pace of reductions slowed from the previous month.

The economic rebound is expected to remain tentative until businesses switch to rebuilding their stockpiles.

Businesses slashed their inventories for the 12th straight month in July, but sales posted a second consecutive gain, providing hope that companies soon will switch from trimming stockpiles to increasing their orders.