U.S. inventory adjustment largely over, data show (by Rex Nutting)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - The inventory adjustment at U.S. companies is largely over, with the inventory-to-sales ratio falling back to normal levels in November, according to Commerce Department data released Thursday. Inventories rose 0.4% in November, the second straight increase after 13 consecutive months of falling inventories. The increase was in line with expectations. Total business sales jumped 2% in November, the largest gain in two years. With sales increasaing much faster than inventories, the key inventory-to-sales ratio fell to 1.28, the pre-recession average. It's the lowest ratio since March 2008.