Business Inventories measures the monthly change in the dollar value of unsold goods held by manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. It is a vital component of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as it reflects the balance between production and consumption. A steady increase in inventories might signal business confidence in future demand, whereas an involuntary buildup could indicate a slowing economy. Analysts use this data to gauge the pace of economic growth and potential shifts in consumer spending patterns.
The data is compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau through surveys of manufacturing, merchant wholesale, and retail trade firms. It is calculated as the percentage change in the total value of inventories from the previous month, adjusted for seasonal variations.
| Date | Actual | Forecast | Surprise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 14, 2026 | 0.00 | 0.10 | -0.10 |
| Jul 16, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Jun 17, 2026 | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.00 |
| May 14, 2026 | 1.00 | 0.80 | +0.20 |
| Apr 21, 2026 | 0.40 | 0.30 | +0.10 |
| Apr 1, 2026 | -0.10 | 0.10 | -0.20 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Feb 10, 2026 | 0.10 | 0.20 | -0.10 |
| Jan 14, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.20 | +0.10 |
| Dec 16, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Nov 25, 2025 | 0.00 | 0.10 | -0.10 |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Aug 15, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Jul 17, 2025 | 0.00 | -0.10 | +0.10 |
| Jun 17, 2025 | 0.00 | 0.20 | -0.20 |
| May 15, 2025 | 0.10 | 0.20 | -0.10 |
| Apr 16, 2025 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Feb 14, 2025 | -0.20 | -0.10 | -0.10 |
| Jan 16, 2025 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Dec 17, 2024 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.00 |
| Nov 15, 2024 | 0.10 | 0.20 | -0.10 |
| Oct 17, 2024 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Sep 17, 2024 | 0.40 | 0.30 | +0.10 |
| Aug 15, 2024 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Jul 16, 2024 | 0.50 | 0.30 | +0.20 |
| Jun 18, 2024 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| May 15, 2024 | -0.10 | -0.10 | 0.00 |
| Apr 15, 2024 | 0.40 | 0.30 | +0.10 |
| Feb 15, 2024 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.00 |
| Jan 17, 2024 | -0.10 | -0.10 | 0.00 |
| Dec 14, 2023 | -0.10 | 0.10 | -0.20 |
| Nov 15, 2023 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.00 |
| Oct 17, 2023 | 0.40 | 0.30 | +0.10 |
| Aug 15, 2023 | 0.00 | 0.10 | -0.10 |
| Jul 18, 2023 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| Jun 15, 2023 | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.00 |
| May 16, 2023 | -0.10 | 0.20 | -0.30 |
| Apr 14, 2023 | 0.20 | 0.30 | -0.10 |
| Mar 15, 2023 | -0.10 | 0.10 | -0.20 |
| Feb 15, 2023 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0.00 |
| Jan 18, 2023 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.00 |
| Dec 15, 2022 | 0.30 | 0.40 | -0.10 |
| Nov 16, 2022 | 0.40 | 0.50 | -0.10 |
| Oct 14, 2022 | 0.80 | 0.90 | -0.10 |
| Sep 15, 2022 | 0.60 | 0.60 | 0.00 |
| Aug 17, 2022 | 1.40 | 1.40 | 0.00 |
| Jul 15, 2022 | 1.40 | 1.30 | +0.10 |
| Jun 15, 2022 | 1.20 | 1.20 | 0.00 |
| May 17, 2022 | 2.00 | 1.90 | +0.10 |
| Date | First print | Current | Revision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2026 | 0.30 | 0.30 | 0 ↓ |
| May 14, 2026 | 0.90 | 1 | +0.10 ↑ |
