Nov 16 (Reuters) - Commerce Department seasonally adjusted data on U.S. business inventories and sales. PCT CHANGES: INVENTORIES Sept Aug (Prev) Sept09/08 Total Business -0.4 -1.6 -1.5 -13.4 Manufacturers -1.0 -0.9 -0.8 -11.8 Retailers 0.6 -2.6 -2.3 -13.9 Autos/parts 3.8 -8.0 -7.9 -27.9 Wholesalers -0.9 -1.3 -1.3 -15.0 SALES Sept Aug (Prev) Sept09/08 Total Business -0.3 1.1 1.0 -13.1 Manufacturers 0.8 -0.2 -0.3 -15.9 Retailers -2.6 2.8 2.4 -7.0 Autos/parts -14.3 10.2 7.8 -11.5 Wholesalers 0.6 1.1 1.0 -15.2 BLNS OF DLRS: INVENTORIES Sept Aug (Prev) Sept08 Total Business 1,303.4 1,309.2 1,311.4 1,505.5 Manufacturers 492.6 497.5 498.2 558.3 Retailers 433.0 430.6 432.0 502.6 Autos/parts 112.6 108.4 108.6 156.3 Wholesalers 377.8 381.1 381.2 444.6 SALES Sept Aug (Prev) Sept08 Total Business 988.0 991.1 989.6 1,136.5 Manufacturers 363.1 360.1 360.0 431.5 Retailers 304.8 312.9 311.6 327.7 Autos/parts 55.0 64.1 62.8 62.1 Wholesalers 320.1 318.1 317.9 377.4 Inventory-to- Sept Aug (Prev) Sept08 Sales Ratio 1.32 1.32 1.33 1.32 FORECAST: Reuters survey of U.S. economists forecast: U.S. Sept business inventories -0.7 pct HISTORICAL COMPARISONS/NOTES: The inventory/sales ratio is a measure of how long it would take to deplete inventories at the current sales pace.

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