August Wholesale Trade Report 2026

The wholesale trade report provides insight into the role of wholesalers as intermediaries between manufacturers and retailers. It may also offer insight into imports and exports, depending on where the goods and supplies originate. So these stats are tied to other stats to understand a broader economy.

The report presents a somewhat positive outlook, as wholesale inventories are growing. However, it is important to monitor consumer spending, market demand, and supply levels to better understand the potential impacts on specific industries and local communities.

Monthly Wholesale Trade Report: August 2026

• Wholesale sales in the United States reached $817.5 billion in August 2026, representing a 1.8% increase from July 2026.

• Wholesale sales increased by 15.6% compared with August 2025, indicating substantial year-over-year growth.

• Wholesale inventories totaled $964.2 billion at the end of August 2026, increasing by 0.5% from the previous month.

• Inventories rose 6.4% compared with August 2025, suggesting that wholesalers held more goods in stock than they did a year earlier.

• The inventory-to-sales ratio was 1.18 in August 2026, down from 1.28 in August 2025, indicating that inventory levels relative to monthly sales were lower than a year earlier.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026, October 8). Monthly wholesale trade report: August 2026.https://www.census.gov/wholesale/current/index.html