The U.S. Census Bureau released its advance statistics for international trade, wholesale inventories and retail inventories for August on Sept. 25, showing a slight decline in wholesale inventories following a modest rise in July.

Wholesale inventories — adjusted for seasonal and trading day differences, but not for price — ended August at $905.2 billion, down 0.2% from July and up 0.7% year-over-year. The June to July percentage change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.1% to up 0.1% to virtually unchanged.

U.S. Wholesale Inventories Month-Over-Month

source: tradingeconomics.com

Retail inventories were virtually unchanged from July at $809.4 billion. That figure was up 1.0% year-over-year. The July monthly change was revised from the preliminary estimate of up 0.2% to up 0.1%.

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The Bureau reported the U.S. international trade deficit was $85.5 billion in August, down $17.3 billion from the $102.8 billion in July. Exports of goods for August were $176.1 billion, $2.3 billion less than July exports. Imports of goods were $261.6 billion, $19.6 billion less than July imports.

The Bureau’s full August Wholesale Trade Report will be released on Oct. 9, and the September 2025 advance report for wholesale and retail inventories is scheduled for release on Oct. 29.