Research >> Economics
March New Orders for Durable Goods increased 0.8%, Ex-Trans down 1.2%
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New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased $1.8 billion or 0.8 percent to $230.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up two of the last three months, followed a 3.1 percent February decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.2 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.0 percent. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, drove the increase, $2.2 billion or 2.9 percent to $76.0 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, down three of the last four months, decreased $1.1 billion or 0.5 percent to $237.0 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent February decrease. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $1.4 billion or 1.8 percent to $77.5 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, down three of the last four months, decreased $1.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,182.5 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent February decrease. Transportation equipment, down four consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $787.3 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $394.1 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent February decrease. Fabricated metal products, up following four consecutive monthly decreases, drove the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $48.5 billion.
Capital Goods
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in March decreased $0.8 billion or 1.1 percent to $71.6 billion. Shipments increased $0.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $75.1 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $3.5 billion or 0.5 percent to $738.9 billion. Inventories increased $0.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $175.2 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in March increased $3.8 billion or 48.4 percent to $11.6 billion. Shipments increased less than $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $10.0 billion. Unfilled orders increased $1.6 billion or 1.1 percent to $150.2 billion. Inventories decreased $0.3 billion or 1.4 percent to $21.5 billion.
Revised February Data
Revised seasonally adjusted February figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $453.8 billion (revised from $454.0 billion); shipments, $463.0 billion (revised from $462.8 billion); unfilled orders, $1,183.8 billion (revised from $1,184.0 billion); and total inventories, $634.1 billion (revised from $634.3 billion).
Posted: April 26, 2016 Tuesday 08:30 AM