December Sees a Slight Decline in US Wholesale Inventories

According to the latest report from the US Census Bureau, wholesale inventories in the United States experienced a 0.5% decrease in December 2024, compared to the revised figures from November of the same year. The total inventories were reported at $898.5 billion, closely aligning with market expectations. On an annual basis, total inventories saw a minor decline of 0.1%.

Merchant Wholesalers' Sales Show Positive Growth

Adjusting for seasonal variations and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, the sales of merchant wholesalers amounted to $686.5 billion. This figure represents a 1% increase from November's revised numbers and a 2.8% rise compared to the same period in 2023.

Inventory-to-Sales Ratio Declines

The inventory-to-sales ratio, based on seasonally adjusted data, was recorded at 1.31. This marks a decrease from the 1.35 ratio reported in December of the previous year, indicating a faster turnover of inventories relative to sales.