WASHINGTON – U.S. wholesalers increased their stockpiles in August and their sales rose for the first time in four months. The gains could provide a boost to the still-weak economy.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that wholesale stockpiles grew 0.5 percent in August after a 0.6 percent increase in July. Sales jumped 0.9 percent in August, ending three months of declines. The sales increase was the biggest one-month gain since February.

Total wholesale inventories stood at $487.5 billion. That's 26.9 percent higher than the post-recession low hit in September 2009.