Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.7% in May
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New orders for manufactured goods in May, down three of the last four months, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.7 percent to $493.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.2 percent April decrease. Shipments, up three of the last four months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.1 percent to $504.3 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent April decrease. Unfilled orders, down three of the last four months, decreased $6.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,171.1 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent April decrease. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.64, down from 6.69 in April. Inventories, up eight of the last nine months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $694.1 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent April increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.38, up from 1.37 in April.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, down three of the last four months, decreased $3.1 billion or 1.3 percent to $243.5 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 2.8 percent April decrease. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $3.8 billion or 4.6 percent to $80.0 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $250.1 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in May, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $0.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $254.2 billion, down from the previously published 0.4 percent increase. This followed a 1.6 percent April decrease. Machinery, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.0 percent to $33.4 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $250.1 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent April increase. Petroleum and coal products, also down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $1.3 billion or 2.4 percent to $54.7 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in May, down three of the last four months, decreased $6.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,171.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.2 percent April decrease. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, led the decrease, $5.7 billion or 0.7 percent to $803.7 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in May, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $2.0 billion or 0.5 percent to $424.6 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.4 percent April increase. Transportation equipment, also up ten of the last eleven months, drove the increase, $2.2 billion or 1.6 percent to $138.5 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $269.6 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent April decrease. Petroleum and coal products, down following four consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.6 billion or 1.5 percent to $41.3 billion. By stage of fabrication, May materials and supplies decreased 0.3 percent in durable goods and were virtually unchanged in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 1.3 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.7 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: July 3, 2019 Wednesday 10:00 AM