US Business Inventories Decline in December

The latest report from the US Census Bureau reveals a 0.2% decrease in inventories within the manufacturing and trade sectors, totaling $2,584.3 billion in December. Despite this monthly dip, there's a 2% increase compared to December 2023.

Trade Sales and Manufacturers' Shipments Show Growth

Adjusted for seasonal and trading day differences, the combined value of trade sales and manufacturers' shipments reached $1,908.8 billion in December 2024. This marks a 0.8% monthly rise and a significant 3.1% increase year on year.

Inventory to Sales Ratio Declines

The inventory to sales ratio at the end of December stood at 1.35, a slight decrease from 1.37 in the same period the previous year.