Associated Press (04/09/13)

U.S. businesses advertised 3.93 million job openings in February, the most in almost five years and an 8.7% increase from January, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. However, hiring rose at a much slower pace, suggesting that employers are too concerned about the economy to quickly fill open jobs. Employers hired 4.4 million people (seasonally adjusted), 2.8% more than in January but at a level lower than it was a year earlier.

Experts say the discrepancy between the number of job openings and the hiring rate may be because many employees lack the skills employers need. Other employers may not be paying a high enough wage. Furthermore, some employers seem hesitant to fill jobs until they find the perfect candidate, staffing firms say.

MarketWatch (04/09/13) Jeffrey Bartash

U.S. wholesale inventories dropped 0.3% in February and were revised down for January, a sign that companies stopped stockpiling goods as rapidly, perhaps in anticipation of slower sales. Wholesale sales jumped 1.7%, however, the U.S. Department of Commerce said Tuesday. Economists had been expecting another gain in wholesale inventories. At February’s sales pace, the inventory-to-sales ratio fell to 1.19 months from 1.21 in January. Inventories of durable goods edged up 0.2% in February, while inventories of nondurables slid 0.9%. In January, inventories were revised down to a 0.8% increase from an initial read of 1.2%.