Business inventories for September 2026: out Tuesday, November 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET
The story goes up on this page shortly after the release: the new numbers, how they compare with before and what they mean for your money. Until then, here is what the release measures and where the last report left off.
What it measures
The value of goods held by US manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers at the end of the month, and how it compares with their sales.
Why it matters for your money
Businesses build stock when they expect demand and trim it when sales slow, so inventories help explain swings in production and in GDP.
Where the last report left off
Aug 2026 data
- Business inventories, change from the prior month
- +0.4%Jul 2026: +0.9%
- Inventories-to-sales ratio
- 1.33Jul 2026: 1.34
View the data as a table
| Period | Value |
|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | +0.4% |
| Jul 2026 | +0.9% |
| Jun 2026 | +0.1% |
| May 2026 | +0.4% |
| Apr 2026 | +0.6% |
| Mar 2026 | +1.0% |
| Feb 2026 | +0.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 0.0% |
| Dec 2025 | −0.1% |
| Nov 2025 | +0.2% |
| Oct 2025 | +0.3% |
| Sep 2025 | +0.3% |
| Aug 2025 | −0.1% |
| Jul 2025 | +0.1% |
| Jun 2025 | +0.2% |
| May 2025 | 0.0% |
| Apr 2025 | −0.1% |
| Mar 2025 | +0.1% |
| Feb 2025 | +0.1% |
| Jan 2025 | +0.4% |
| Dec 2024 | −0.3% |
| Nov 2024 | +0.3% |
| Oct 2024 | +0.1% |
| Sep 2024 | 0.0% |
Source: Census Bureau, via FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis). Revised figures replace earlier ones.Full release
The last story
Business inventories rose 0.4% in August, a seventh straight monthly increaseThe inventories-to-sales ratio slipped to 1.33 from 1.34 in July, its first decline after two straight monthly rises, the Census Bureau reported.