U.S. retail inventories excluding autos rose by 0.7% in July 2026, reversing the previous month’s decline of 0.5% recorded in June 2026. The latest figures, updated on 27 August 2026, point to a notable shift in stock levels across non-automotive retail categories.
The move from contraction to growth suggests retailers may be rebuilding inventories after a period of drawdowns, potentially in anticipation of steady or improving consumer demand. While the data do not reveal category-level details, the July uptick in ex-auto inventories could indicate greater confidence in sales outlooks for the coming months, or a normalization of supply chains after earlier adjustments.
Market participants and analysts will likely watch subsequent releases to determine whether July’s gain marks the start of a sustained restocking cycle or a one-off correction following June’s pullback.
