Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.5% in February
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New orders for manufactured goods in February, down four of the last five months, decreased $2.6 billion or 0.5 percent to $497.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a virtually unchanged January decrease. Shipments, up following four consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $505.5 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent January decrease. Unfilled orders, down four of the last five months, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,177.6 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent January increase. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.54, down from 6.57 in January. Inventories, up twenty‐seven of the last twenty‐eight months, increased $2.0 billion or 0.3 percent to $687.8 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent January increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.36, unchanged from January.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in February, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $4.2 billion or 1.6 percent to $250.5 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.1 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, also down following three consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $4.1 billion or 4.5 percent to $86.2 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.5 billion or 0.6 percent to $247.0 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up three of the last four months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.2 percent to $258.5 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5 percent January decrease. Computers and electronic products, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.0 percent to $28.0 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, increased $1.5 billion or 0.6 percent to $247.0 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent January decrease. Petroleum and coal products, also up following three consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $1.4 billion or 2.8 percent to $51.9 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, down four of the last five months, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,177.6 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.1 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, also down four of the last five months, led the decrease, $3.6 billion or 0.4 percent to $807.3 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up twenty‐five of the last twenty‐six months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $418.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, up five of the last six months, drove the increase, $1.3 billion or 1.0 percent to $134.1 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up two consecutive months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $268.9 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent January increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up two consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.9 billion or 2.3 percent to $40.2 billion. By stage of fabrication, February materials and supplies decreased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 1.0 percent in durable goods and increased 0.5 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods were virtually unchanged in durable goods and increased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: April 8, 2019 Monday 10:00 AM