Economic Trends
U.S. Cutting Tool Orders Tick Down in August, Shipments Hold Steady
October 21, 2026
Economic Trends
October U.S. Wholesale Inventories Fall Slightly from September
The September figure was also revised downward.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s latest wholesale trade statistics for October 2023 logged a decrease in inventories both month-to-month and year-over-year.
Inventories of merchant wholesalers were $897.1 billion at the end of October, down 0.4% from the revised September level and down 2.3% year-over-year.
The September 2023 to October 2023 inventories change was revised down from the advance estimate of down 0.2% to down 0.4, according to the Dec. 7 report.
Sales
The bureau reported that October 2023 sales of merchant wholesalers were $667.9 billion, down 1.3% from September’s revised level, and down 0.4% year-over-year. The August to September percent change was revised up from the advance 2.2% estimate to 2.0%.
Inventory-to-Sales Ratio
The October inventory-to-sales ratio for merchant wholesalers, based on seasonally-adjusted data, was 1.34, down from September’s 1.37.
