US business inventories rose 0.3% month-over-month in May 2026, following an upwardly revised 0.6% increase in April and in line with market expectations. Stockpiles grew at a slower pace across all major categories: merchant wholesalers (0.1% vs 0.7% in April), manufacturers (0.2% vs 0.3%), and retailers (0.6% vs 0.7%). On a yearly basis, business inventories were up 3.1%.