Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 1.3% in April 2021
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Summary
New orders for manufactured goods in April, down following eleven consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.9 billion or 0.6 percent to $485.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.4 percent March increase. Shipments, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $487.8 billion. This followed a 2.1 percent March increase. Unfilled orders, up three consecutive months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,196.9 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent March increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.84, down from 7.00 in March. Inventories, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $2.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $723.6 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent March increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.48, unchanged from March.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down following eleven consecutive monthly increases, decreased $3.2 billion or 1.3 percent to $246.3 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 1.3 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $4.9 billion or 6.6 percent to $68.9 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $238.9 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $1.5 billion or 0.6 percent to $249.0 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 2.7 percent March increase. Primary metals, also up eleven of the last twelve months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 2.7 percent to $21.7 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $0.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $238.9 billion. This followed a 1.6 percent March increase. Chemical products, also up eleven of the last twelve months, drove the increase, $0.6 billion or 0.9 percent to $63.0 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, up three consecutive months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,196.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5 percent March increase. Fabricated metal products, up eleven consecutive months, drove the increase, $3.1 billion or 3.4 percent to $95.9 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up three consecutive months, increased $2.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $441.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 1.1 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, also up three consecutive months, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 0.6 percent to $149.4 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up eight of the last nine months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $281.8 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent March increase. Beverage and Tobacco products, up three consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.7 percent to $26.2 billion. By stage of fabrication, April materials and supplies increased 0.9 percent in durable goods and 0.3 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process was virtually unchanged in durable goods and increased 0.8 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.7 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.4 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: June 4, 2021 Friday 10:00 AM