Wholesale Trade & Census Data
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Wholesale Trade Demand Strengthens as Costs and Inventories Rise
Wholesale trade was among the industries reporting growth in new orders, providing a direct indication that demand strengthened across the distribution sector during the month.
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U.S. Wholesale Inventories Rise 1.3% in July
Capital goods imports increased 11.3% from June to $140.1 billion and were 46.9% higher than a year ago.
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Wholesale Sales Surge 14.1% as Distributors Hold the Line on Inventories
The Census report also suggests distributors entered the second half of 2026 with relatively lean inventories, providing flexibility should demand strengthen later in the year.
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U.S. Wholesale Sales Surge in May as Inventory Growth Levels Off
Seasonally adjusted sales at merchant wholesalers reached $817.4 billion in May, up 3.4% from April and 18.1% from May 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey.
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U.S. Services Growth Slows Slightly in June, but Wholesale Trade Remains Strong
Wholesale trade was among 14 industries reporting growth during June, joining transportation and warehousing, construction, utilities, retail trade and information services.
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U.S. Wholesale Inventories Climb in May as Trade Deficit Widens
For distributors, the report points to continued inventory replenishment as companies position themselves to meet customer demand while navigating shifting trade flows and evolving tariff policies.
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U.S. Economy Grew Faster Than Expected in First Quarter, but Wholesale Trade Remained a Drag
Strong capital investment and manufacturing activity continue to support demand for industrial products, technology and equipment, but weakness in wholesale trade suggests many distributors are still contending with cautious customer spending, inventory normalization and uneven order patterns.
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Wholesale Sales Outpace Inventory Growth as Distributors Rebuild Stock
The report suggests wholesalers are becoming increasingly confident in replenishing inventories after several years marked by supply chain disruptions, excess inventory corrections, and economic uncertainty.
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Wholesale Inventories Rise 0.5% in April as Distributors Take Measured Approach to Restocking
The data indicates distributors are continuing to rebuild inventory levels but remain cautious about committing to larger stock positions despite signs of strengthening demand elsewhere in the economy.
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Census Bureau Data Show Wholesale Trade Lagging National AI Adoption Rate
Even under the broader definition, wholesale trade, manufacturing, and retail all reported AI adoption rates below the national average.