inventory

“Buyers continue to struggle to meet sellers’ price expectations, which is contributing to rising inventory levels and longer periods spent on the market,” Cotality said.

This is despite a relatively vulnerable gas balance for the upcoming winter, with EU inventory levels still below the five-year average.

They have tried to use sweeteners to shift inventory.

Oil futures fell, with a large weekly increase in U.S. crude inventories adding to downside pressure in a market concerned about weaker demand and oversupply.

Kelleher said that GXO’s retailer customers that rushed extra merchandise into the U.S. early to get ahead of new tariffs are now holding more typical inventory levels after selling through excess goods.