Q4 GDP expectations are off to a bad start as October wholesale inventories dropped 0.1% (missing expectations of a 0.2% rise and well down from the September surge of 0.5%). Wholesale inventories rose only 3.7% YoY, the lowest since Sept 2013 but sales have now been negative YoY since December. This leaves the crucial inventories-to-sales ratio at 1.31 - post-crisis highs, and deep in recession territory.
[4]
Leaving the absolute level of inventories over sales just shy of all-time record highs..
[5]
and the inventories to sales ratio at cycle highs...
[6]
Time for a Fed rate-hike!?
Charts: Bloomberg
