Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.2% in August
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New orders for manufactured goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $5.4 billion or 1.2 percent to $471.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 3.3 percent July decrease. Shipments, up eight of the last nine months, increased $2.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $475.9 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent July increase. Unfilled orders, up two of the last three months, increased $0.2 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,132.6 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent July decrease. The unfilled orders to-shipments ratio was 6.77, unchanged from July. Inventories, up nine of the last ten months, increased $2.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $655.6 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent July increase. The inventories-to shipments ratio was 1.38, unchanged from July.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $4.5 billion or 2.0 percent to $233.5 billion, up from the previously published 1.7 percent increase. This followed a 6.8 percent July decrease. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, led the increase, $3.7 billion or 5.1 percent to $77.5 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $238.2 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $1.3 billion
or 0.5 percent to $237.8 billion, up from the previously published 0.3 percent increase. This followed a 0.1
percent July increase. Machinery, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $0.5 billion or 1.7
percent to $31.6 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up four of the last five months,
increased $0.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $238.2 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent July increase. Petroleum
and coal products, up two consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.9 billion or 2.2 percent to $42.3
billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $0.2 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,132.6 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.3 percent July decrease. Fabricated metal products, up seven of the last eight months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.6 percent to $79.2 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up thirteen of the last fourteen months, increased $1.5 billion or 0.4 percent to $400.8 billion, up from the previously published 0.3 percent increase. This followed a 0.5 percent July increase. Machinery, up nine of the last ten months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 0.9 percent to $69.1 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up three consecutive months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.6 percent to $254.8 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent July increase.
Petroleum and coal products, up two consecutive months, led the increase, $1.3 billion or 3.7 percent to $36.4 billion. By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies increased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased 0.9 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and increased 1.0 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: October 5, 2017 Thursday 10:00 AM