| What the Latest Numbers Mean for Patent Applicants
The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office has made meaningful progress in reducing its unexamined patent application inventory.
As of July 2026, the unexamined application inventory stands at approximately 759,413 (down from over 802,659 in July 2025). First Office Action pendency has improved slightly to 20.8 months. This improvement in overall pendency benefits applicants by helping move cases through examination more efficiently. USPTO Patents Dashboard – Latest Statistics
Practical Advice for our Clients
This is a good time for Clients, Applicants and Inventors to review their pending applications and consider how it aligns with current goals, or whether updates may be helpful before substantive examination begins.
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