Inventories in Australia were up a seasonally adjusted 1.2 percent on quarter in the first three months of 2017, the Australian Bureau of Statistics said on Monday.
That beat forecasts for a rise of 0.5 percent following the 0.3 percent gain in the previous three months.
Inventories were up 2.5 percent on year.
Company operating profits advanced 6.0 percent on quarter - also exceeding expectations for 5.0 percent but down from 20.1 percent in the three months prior.
Profits were up 39.7 percent on year.
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