Background checks for handheld weapons purchases in the U.S. rose 4% in May on a year earlier, the first increase since November. The prior downturn appears to have left retailers’ inventories at a high level, cutting imports. Panjiva data shows imports of weapons and parts were unchanged in May on a year earlier having hit a high since July 2015 the month prior. Ammunition imports saw a more extreme shift, with a 78% drop to the lowest since February 2015.