U.S. businesses built up their inventory stock notably more than expected in July, according to figures released Friday by the Commerce Department.
Total manufacturers' and trade inventories were estimated at a seasonally adjusted level of $1.592 trillion, a 0.8 percent increase from June levels.
While most economists had expected inventories to increase faster than the 0.1 percent rate posted from May to June, most had expected a lower, 0.5 percent, increase for July.
Business sales, which had plunged 1.2 percent in June, also showed an encouraging rebound, increasing 0.9 percent in July - the largest percentage increase since December 2011.
The larger increase in sales than in inventories brought the inventories/sales ratio for U.S. businesses down to 1.28 in July from the 1.29 level posted in June. The June inventories/sales ratio was the highest since February 2010.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.