Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.8% in April
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New orders for manufactured goods in April, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $4.0 billion or 0.8 percent to $494.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.7 percent March increase. Shipments, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $492.8 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent March increase. Unfilled orders, up five of the last six months, increased $5.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,153.1 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent March increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.73, up from 6.66 in March. Inventories, up eighteen consecutive months, increased $2.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $666.9 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent March increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from March.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $4.1 billion or 1.6 percent to $248.6 billion, up from the previously published 1.7 percent decrease. This followed a 2.7 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $5.5 billion or 6.0 percent to $87.2 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $245.8 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $247.0 billion, up from the previously published 0.1 percent decrease. This followed a 0.8 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $1.7 billion or 2.0 percent to $83.0 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $245.8 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent March increase. Food products, up five of the last six months, drove the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $68.1 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, up five of the last six months, increased $5.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,153.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.8 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, also up five of the last six months, led the increase, $4.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $796.1 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up seventeen of the last eighteen months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $401.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.2 percent March increase. Fabricated metal products, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.8 percent to $52.0 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up ten consecutive months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $265.0 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent March increase. Chemical products, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $87.8 billion. By stage of fabrication, April materials and supplies increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and increased 0.3 percent nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.5 percent in both durable goods and nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.1 percent in durable goods and increased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: June 4, 2018 Monday 10:00 AM