Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.1% in December
|
New orders for manufactured goods in December, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $499.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.5 percent November decrease. Shipments, down three consecutive months, decreased $0.9 billion or 0.2 percent to $504.9 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent November decrease. Unfilled orders, also down three consecutive months, decreased $0.9 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,180.3 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent November decrease. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.55, down from 6.58 in November. Inventories, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $681.5 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent November decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from November.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up two consecutive months, increased $2.9 billion or 1.2 percent to $254.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.9 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $2.8 billion or 3.2 percent to $89.9 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $2.6 billion or 1.0 percent to $245.8 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up four of the last five months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.7 percent to $259.1 billion, down from the previously published 0.8 percent increase. This followed a 1.0 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months, led the increase, $1.4 billion or 1.6 percent to $91.3 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down two consecutive months, decreased $2.6 billion or 1.0 percent to $245.8 billion. This followed a 2.0 percent November decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also down two consecutive months, led the decrease, $2.5 billion or 4.8 percent to $50.5 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, down three consecutive months, decreased $0.9 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,180.3 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.2 percent November decrease. Transportation equipment, also down three consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $810.8 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up twenty‐three of the last twenty‐four months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.3 percent to $415.1 billion, up from the previously published 0.2 percent increase. This followed a 0.5 percent November increase. Primary metals, up twenty‐five of the last twenty‐six months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 1.0 percent to $36.6 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down two consecutive months, decreased $1.2 billion or 0.4 percent to $266.5 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent November decrease. Petroleum and coal products, down three consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.8 billion or 4.5 percent to $37.9 billion. By stage of fabrication, December materials and supplies increased 0.2 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.5 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process was virtually unchanged in durable goods and increased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.6 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: February 27, 2019 Wednesday 10:00 AM