Wholesale inventories rose by 0.1% in May, revised downwards from a 0.3% increase in the advance reading and following a 0.7% rise in April.
Analysts in a survey compiled by Bloomberg expected May inventories to be unrevised.
Durable and nondurable wholesale inventories both increased by 0.1%.
Wholesale sales rose by 3.4% in May after a 2.2% increase in April, led by an 8.6% increase in petroleum sales. Analysts expected a much-smaller 0.8% increase.
When combined with already released data at the retail and factory levels, business inventories are tracking for a 0.3% increase, while business sales are tracking for a 2.1% rise. The report on business inventories and sales will be released on July 16.