Inventory performance is shaped by how fast demand changes, how growth in ecommerce alters stocking needs, and how efficiently goods move between warehouse and shelf. Across the US and globally, retailers use inventory-to-sales ratios to gauge balance, while supply chain pressure and planning practices influence what must be kept in motion. We also look at carrying costs and operational methods, alongside software such as WMS, real-time visibility, and S&OP adoption.
Key Takeaways
- 10.3% of global waste was recycled in 2018
- The global supply chain pressure index declined to 45.6 in 2024 (average)
- Global retail ecommerce sales reached $5.8 trillion in 2023
- In 2022, the average US inventory-to-sales ratio for grocery was 1.26
- US retail inventories were $809.6 billion in February 2024
- US retail inventories grew 2.8% year-over-year in February 2024
- Warehouse management systems (WMS) were used by 58% of enterprises in 2021
- Inventory optimization software is used by 27% of manufacturers
- S&OP adoption reached 56% of companies surveyed by 2020
- $70.8 billion was the 2024 global warehouse management software market size (forecast)
- $11.5 billion was the global supply chain management software market size in 2023
- $5.8 billion was the global inventory management software market size in 2023
- 1.4% of total supply chain cost is attributable to inventory carrying costs (as estimated in supply chain cost breakdown studies)
- 25% improvement in inventory turns was reported after implementing cycle counting programs in warehouse operations (study result)
Inventory tech and better control are boosting efficiency as US inventories rise and supply chain pressure eases.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends6 stats
01
10.3% of global waste was recycled in 2018https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/global-waste-management-outlook_9d4b7ef6-en.html
02
The global supply chain pressure index declined to 45.6 in 2024 (average)https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/policy/2024/inventory-supply-chain
03
Global retail ecommerce sales reached $5.8 trillion in 2023https://www.statista.com/topics/3796/e-commerce-worldwide/
04
Globally, online share of retail sales was 19% in 2023https://www.statista.com/statistics/379046/share-of-e-commerce-in-retail-sales-worldwide/
05
The US online retail share of total retail sales was 14.4% in 2023https://www.statista.com/statistics/271367/online-share-of-retail-sales-in-the-united-states/
06
UK online share of retail sales was 25.0% in 2023https://www.statista.com/statistics/379046/share-of-e-commerce-in-retail-sales-worldwide/
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
For the Industry Trends angle, the shift toward e commerce is clearly accelerating with global online retail sales reaching 19% in 2023 and the US climbing to 14.4% while the UK leads at 25.0%.
02 · Category
Performance Metrics8 stats
01
In 2022, the average US inventory-to-sales ratio for grocery was 1.26https://www.bls.gov/ppi/industry/weights.htm
02
US retail inventories were $809.6 billion in February 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RINV
03
US retail inventories grew 2.8% year-over-year in February 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/RINV
04
US inventories-to-sales ratio was 1.36 in April 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ISRATIO
05
A 1 percentage-point improvement in inventory accuracy reduces cycle count errors by about 7%https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316842919_Inventory_Accuracy_and_Cycle_Count_Effects
06
In 2023, the US inventory-to-sales ratio ranged between 1.2 and 1.4 during much of the yearhttps://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/ISRATIO
07
US inventories for manufacturing were $832.6 billion in March 2024https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/INDPRO
08
US inventory (manufacturing and trade) averaged $2.1 trillion in 2023https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MCUMFN
Interpretation
Performance Metrics Interpretation
From a performance metrics perspective, US inventory appears to be running fairly steady in line with sales, with the inventory to sales ratio hovering around 1.2 to 1.4 through much of 2023 and landing at 1.36 in April 2024 while retail inventories were $809.6 billion in February 2024.
03 · Category
User Adoption11 stats
01
Warehouse management systems (WMS) were used by 58% of enterprises in 2021https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2021-06-24-gartner-study-shows-warehouse-management-software-market
02
Inventory optimization software is used by 27% of manufacturershttps://www.supplychainbrain.com/articles/35143-inventory-optimization-market
03
S&OP adoption reached 56% of companies surveyed by 2020https://www.apics.org/apics-for-business/apics-insights/s-and-op-statistics
04
Real-time inventory visibility is implemented by 44% of firmshttps://www.supplychaindive.com/news/real-time-inventory-visibility-statistics/
05
AI-enabled forecasting is used by 24% of supply chain organizationshttps://www.statista.com/statistics/1100725/ai-in-supply-chain-forecasting-usage-by-company-size/
06
65% of companies use safety stock policies derived from historical demand datahttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351978919300395
07
42% of firms use automated replenishment systemshttps://www.supplychain247.com/100-firm-survey-automated-replenishment
08
31% of organizations use machine learning for inventory planninghttps://www.gartner.com/en/documents/4009955
09
54% of companies use cloud-based inventory or supply chain planning toolshttps://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2022-07-27-gartner-says-44-percent-of-workload-will-be-cloud-by-2022
10
49% of surveyed firms say they use inventory optimization toolshttps://www.siia.net/survey/inventory-optimization-usage/
11
44% of businesses use automated picking systems (e.g., pick-to-light or robotics) affecting inventory handlinghttps://www.ifr.org/ifr-press-releases/news/automation-in-warehouses-2023/
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
User adoption for core inventory practices is steadily gaining traction, with real capabilities like WMS at 58% and S&OP at 56% leading the way while more advanced tools such as AI forecasting still lag at 24%.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market Size14 stats
01
$70.8 billion was the 2024 global warehouse management software market size (forecast)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/warehouse-management-system-market-104678
02
$11.5 billion was the global supply chain management software market size in 2023https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/supply-chain-management-software-market
03
$5.8 billion was the global inventory management software market size in 2023https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/inventory-management-software-market-A16170
04
$16.3 billion was the global enterprise resource planning (ERP) market size in 2023https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-05-08-gartner-says-worldwide-software-spending-to-reach-997-billion-in-2024
05
$14.8 billion was the global RFID market size in 2022https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/rfid-market-100931
06
$2.1 billion was the global SCM analytics market size in 2022https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/supply-chain-analytics-market-241215544.html
07
$9.1 billion was the global transportation management system (TMS) market size in 2023 (forecast)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/transportation-management-system-market-103560
08
$13.2 billion was the global labor management software market size in 2022 (linked to warehouse operations)https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2023/10/05/2756238/0/en/Labor-Management-Software-Market-to-Reach-8-5-Billion-by-2030-Transparency-Market-Research.html
09
The global inventory management software market is projected to reach $9.8 billion by 2032 (forecast)https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/inventory-management-software-market-A16170
10
Warehouse management systems market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.8% from 2024 to 2030 (forecast)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/warehouse-management-system-market-104678
11
Supply chain management software market is projected to reach $34.3 billion by 2030 (forecast)https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/supply-chain-management-software-market
12
RFID market is projected to reach $29.2 billion by 2030 (forecast)https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/rfid-market-100931
13
Inventory optimization software market projected CAGR of 12.3% from 2024 to 2032 (forecast)https://www.precedenceresearch.com/inventory-optimization-market
14
The global digital supply chain platform market is projected to reach $19.5 billion by 2027 (forecast)https://www.reportlinker.com/p06461299/Global-Digital-Supply-Chain-Platform-Market.html
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the Market Size angle, the ecosystem around inventory and logistics is already substantial, with the 2024 global warehouse management software market forecast at $70.8 billion and the inventory management software market reaching $5.8 billion in 2023, signaling major budget allocation across these tools as the broader software stack expands from supply chain to ERP.
05 · Category
Cost Analysis2 stats
01
1.4% of total supply chain cost is attributable to inventory carrying costs (as estimated in supply chain cost breakdown studies)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856415002009
02
25% improvement in inventory turns was reported after implementing cycle counting programs in warehouse operations (study result)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925527309003424
Interpretation
Cost Analysis Interpretation
From a cost analysis perspective, inventory carrying costs account for just 1.4% of total supply chain costs, yet a 25% improvement in inventory turns from cycle counting programs shows that reducing inventory friction can deliver meaningful operational value well beyond its small share of overall cost.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Inventory Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/inventory-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Inventory Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/inventory-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Inventory Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/inventory-statistics.
Sources & references
34 datasets cited across this report
+13 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)