FX.co ★ US Business Inventory Growth Hits Over 1-Year High

US business inventories increased by 0.4% month-over-month in February 2026, following a revised flat reading in January and slightly exceeding market expectations of a 0.3% rise. This was the strongest monthly gain since January 2025, largely driven by a 0.8% increase in merchant wholesale inventories, which had declined by 0.3% in January. Inventories also rose for retailers (0.2%, compared with 0.3% previously) and manufacturers (0.1%, unchanged from the prior month). On an annual basis, total business inventories were up 1.3% in February.