Seasonally adjusted sales totaled $727.5 billion, up 0.5% from December and 7.5% higher than a year earlier.
The wholesale trade sector employed about 6.05 million workers in February.
For now, analysts say distributors are balancing steady sales against an uncertain macro backdrop.
Inventories of wholesalers increased only 0.1% in July compared to the prior month.
U.S. wholesale sales grew 0.3% in June compared to May.
Wholesale sales of durable goods tick up in May as inventories fall.
Total wholesale sales ticked up just 0.1% in April compared to March, after growing by 0.8% in March and 2.0% in February.
This advance buying could result in lower sales for distributors later in the year, but that could be offset by economic growth.
Experts say there’s a disconnect between sentiment and the hard data.
Inventories were up 1.1% from February 2024.