Inventories at U.S. wholesalers fell in December for the third straight month, another sign companies cut back on restocking toward the end of 2015 amid softer sales. Inventories dropped 0.1% to a seasonally adjusted $582 billion, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. Annualized growth in restocking slowed to 1.9% from a 6% pace early last year. Sales for wholesalers fell 0.3% in December. From December 2014 to December 2014, wholesale sales sank 4.5%, mostly because of less demand for metals used in an array of goods. The ratio of inventories to sales was unchanged at 1.32. The number measures how many months it ... (full story)