The latest U.S. Census Bureau report, released yesterday, April 21, 2026, shows that U.S. business inventories rose more than expected in February. Total inventories increased 0.4% to $2,686.8 billion, slightly outpacing the 0.3% growth forecasted by economists.
February 2026 Summary
- Total Business Sales: Shot up 1.7% to $1,974.6 billion.
- This was a sharp rebound from the 0.6% increase in January.
- Driven largely by a record 15.5% surge in gasoline station receipts due to fuel price spikes during the Iran conflict.
- Inventory Breakdown:
- Wholesale: Rebounded significantly by 0.8%.
- Retail: Increased 0.2%, following a 0.3% rise in the previous month.
- Manufacturing: Gained 0.1%.
- Total Inventories: Increased 1.3% compared to February 2025.
Inventory-to-Sales Ratio
The total business inventories-to-sales ratio—a key metric for supply chain health—was 1.36 in February.
- This is a slight decrease from the 1.38 ratio recorded in February 2025.
- Specifically in the wholesale sector, the ratio dropped to 1.22 from 1.31 a year ago, reflecting faster sales growth relative to stock accumulation.
Economic Impact
Analysts from Reuters suggest that the steady increase in inventories could be a positive contributor to first-quarter GDP growth. The Atlanta Federal Reserve is currently forecasting an annualized GDP growth rate of 1.3% for Q1 2026.
Next Release
The full report for March 2026 data is scheduled for release on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET.
Would you like a breakdown of how specific sectors, like automotive or electronics, influenced these totals?
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