August US Business Inventories Rise As Expected, Business Sales Up

10:08 AM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Business inventories were up 0.4% in August, as expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg and following a 0.9% increase in the previous month. Retail inventories were up 0.2%, revised down from a 0.3% gain in the advance estimate, while wholesale inventories and factory inventories both increased by 0.5%. Business sales rose by 1.1% in August, with retail trade sales up 1.3% after revision. Wholesale sales increased by 1.8% and factory shipments were flat.