This indicator measures the monthly change in the total value of goods held in inventory by retail firms, excluding the automotive sector. Because auto sales are highly volatile and can distort overall trends, the 'Ex Autos' figure provides a clearer picture of underlying retail health. High inventory levels can indicate either a buildup in anticipation of strong future sales or an unexpected slowdown in consumer demand. It is a vital component in calculating the quarterly GDP growth figures.
The data is compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau through surveys of retail companies. The figure is seasonally adjusted to account for predictable variations like holiday shopping seasons.
| Date | Actual | Forecast | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 27, 2026 | 0.70 | 0.00 | +0.70 |
| Aug 14, 2026 | -0.40 | -0.20 | -0.20 |
| Jul 28, 2026 | -0.20 | 0.30 | -0.50 |
| Jul 16, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.40 | -0.10 |
| Jun 26, 2026 | 0.40 | 0.10 | +0.30 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.00 |
| May 29, 2026 | 0.60 | 0.20 | +0.40 |
| May 14, 2026 | 0.40 | 0.50 | -0.10 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | 0.50 | -0.20 | +0.70 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Apr 1, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 0.40 | 0.20 | +0.20 |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 0.20 | 0.10 | +0.10 |
| Feb 10, 2026 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Jan 14, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.00 | +0.30 |
| Dec 16, 2025 | 0.00 | 0.20 | -0.20 |
| Nov 25, 2025 | 0.00 | 0.30 | -0.30 |
| Sep 25, 2025 | 0.30 | -0.20 | +0.50 |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 0.10 | -0.10 | +0.20 |
| Aug 29, 2025 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Aug 15, 2025 | -0.10 | 0.00 | -0.10 |
| Jul 29, 2025 | 0.00 | 0.20 | -0.20 |
| Jul 17, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Jun 26, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.10 | +0.10 |
| Jun 17, 2025 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| May 30, 2025 | 0.30 | 0.10 | +0.20 |
| May 15, 2025 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.00 |
| Apr 29, 2025 | 0.40 | -0.20 | +0.60 |
| Apr 16, 2025 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Mar 27, 2025 | 0.10 | 0.40 | -0.30 |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.50 | 0.40 | +0.10 |
| Feb 28, 2025 | 0.40 | 0.10 | +0.30 |
| Feb 14, 2025 | -0.10 | 0.20 | -0.30 |
| Jan 29, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.40 | -0.20 |
| Jan 16, 2025 | 0.50 | 0.60 | -0.10 |
| Dec 27, 2024 | 0.60 | — | — |
| Dec 17, 2024 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Nov 27, 2024 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Nov 15, 2024 | 0.20 | 0.10 | +0.10 |
| Oct 29, 2024 | 0.10 | 0.30 | -0.20 |
| Oct 17, 2024 | 0.50 | 0.40 | +0.10 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 0.40 | 0.30 | +0.10 |
| Sep 17, 2024 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 |
| Aug 29, 2024 | 0.50 | — | — |
| Aug 15, 2024 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Jul 24, 2024 | 0.20 | -0.10 | +0.30 |
| Jun 18, 2024 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| May 30, 2024 | 0.30 | — | — |
| May 15, 2024 | -0.20 | -0.10 | -0.10 |
| Apr 25, 2024 | -0.10 | 0.30 | -0.40 |
| Date | First print | Current | Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2026 | -0.40 | -0.40 | 0 ↓ |
| Jul 16, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0 ↓ |
| Jun 17, 2026 | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0 ↓ |
| May 14, 2026 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0 ↓ |
