U.S. business inventories slipped 0.1% month-over-month in January 2026, reversing a 0.1% increase recorded in December 2025, according to data updated on 1 April 2026. The move into negative territory suggests firms may have scaled back stock levels after modest accumulation at the end of last year.
On a month-over-month basis, January’s reading shows that businesses held slightly fewer goods on hand compared with December, while December’s 0.1% gain had marked a small build relative to November. The shift underscores how companies are fine-tuning inventory positions in response to evolving demand conditions and cost considerations as the new year gets underway.
