Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.2% in February
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New orders for manufactured goods in February, up six of the last seven months, increased $6.0 billion or 1.2 percent to $498.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.3 percent January decrease. Shipments, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.2 percent to $500.5 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent January increase. Unfilled orders, up five of the last six months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,142.8 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent January decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.49, down from 6.52 in January. Inventories, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $2.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $675.2 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent January increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from January.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up three of the last four months, increased $7.2 billion or 3.0 percent to $247.3 billion, down from the previously published 3.1 percent increase. This followed a 3.6 percent January decrease. Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $5.5 billion or 7.0 percent to $83.5 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $250.7 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up nine of the last ten months, increased $2.2 billion or 0.9 percent to $249.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5 percent January increase. Machinery, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 1.7 percent to $33.3 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $250.7 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent January increase. Petroleum and coal products, down following seven consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $2.0 billion or 3.7 percent to $50.5 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up five of the last six months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.2 percent to $1,142.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.3 percent January decrease. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $1.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $773.3 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up nineteen of the last twenty months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $410.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.4 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, up three consecutive months, led the increase, $0.7 billion or 0.5 percent to $132.7 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up nine consecutive months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $264.4 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent January increase. Petroleum and coal products, up eight consecutive months, led the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $42.8 billion. By stage of fabrication, February materials and supplies increased 0.6 percent in both durable goods and nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.6 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and increased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: April 4, 2018 Wednesday 10:00 AM