WASHINGTON (Reuters] – U.S. wholesale stocks increased slightly less than expected in April, as sales growth moderated.

Commerce Department reported that wholesale inventories rose 2.2% rather than 2.1%, as was previously reported. The March data was updated to reflect a 2.7% increase in stocks at wholesalers, instead of 2.1% as previously reported.

Reuters polled economic experts and they predicted that April inventories wouldn’t be revised. The wholesale inventory increased by 24.0% year-on-year in April. The key component of Gross Domestic Product is the inventories.

After a 2.4% increase in March, wholesale motor vehicle inventories increased 1.3%. In April, wholesale inventories, which exclude autos, rose by 2.2%. This part is used in the calculation of GDP. Therefore, it was suggested that this component could be considered as an investment opportunity to increase economic growth.

In the January-March quarter, GDP fell at an annualized 1.5% rate due to a record trade deficit as well as slower inventory accumulation than the fourth quarter. For the second quarter, growth is expected to be as high as 4.8%.

After increasing 1.8% in March, wholesaler sales increased 0.7% in April. Wholesalers would need 1.25 months to clear their shelves at April’s pace, up 1.23 months from March.