FX.co ★ US Retail Inventories Edge Up in January

US retail inventories excluding autos rose 0.3% in January 2026, following a 0.4% increase in December. Growth was driven primarily by furniture and home furnishings, as well as electronics and appliance stores, where inventories climbed 0.7%, accelerating from 0.4% in the prior month. Building materials, garden equipment, and supplies posted a strong 1.3% gain after showing no growth in December, while general merchandise inventories edged up 0.2%. By contrast, food and beverage stores registered a 0.7% decline in inventories. On a year-over-year basis, retail inventories excluding autos were 1.6% higher in January.