U.S. retail inventories excluding autos rose by 0.4% in December 2025, up from a flat reading of 0.0% previously, according to data updated on 6 March 2026. The move marks a modest but notable pickup in stock rebuilding at retailers outside the auto sector.
The shift from no growth to a 0.4% increase suggests retailers have begun to cautiously rebuild inventories after a period of holding levels steady. While the data cover only December 2025, the improvement in retail inventories ex-auto may indicate expectations of more stable or slightly stronger demand heading into 2026, with potential implications for supply chains and wholesale orders in the months ahead.
