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Business inventories rose 0.3% in September, the first increase in six months, the Commerce Department reported Monday.

If inventories increased, it likely means trucks have seen an uptick in business to delivery new goods to stores.

A surge in spending during the third quarter forced businesses to rebuild stockpiles. More orders to restock shelves are expected to give the economy a boost in the months ahead, economists and Federal Reserve officials have said recently.

Economists expected no change in inventories, Bloomberg reported.

Sales increased 0.6% in September. Relative to sales, inventories held at a record low for a third straight month, Commerce said.

The inventory-sales ratio, which measures the time goods sit on shelves, held at 1.36 months in September.

Inventories at retailers, reported for the first time today, rose 1% in September after a 0.7% decrease.

Commerce also said inventories at manufacturers, which account for about 40% of the report, fell 0.4% after a 0.3% decrease in August. Sales at factories rose 1.4% after falling 1.7%.

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