Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 1.4% in January
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New orders for manufactured goods in January, down following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $6.9 billion or 1.4 percent to $491.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.8 percent December increase. Shipments, up thirteen of the last fourteen months, increased $2.8 billion or 0.6 percent to $498.8 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent December increase. Unfilled orders, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,141.2 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent December increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.54, down from 6.58 in December. Inventories, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.3 percent to $672.4 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent December increase. The inventories to shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from December.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $9.0 billion or 3.6 percent to $240.0 billion, up from the previously published 3.7 percent decrease. This followed a 2.7 percent December increase. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $8.6 billion or 10.0 percent to $77.9 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.1 billion or 0.8 percent to $251.7 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, up eight of the last nine months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $247.1 billion, up from the previously published 0.2 percent increase. This followed a 0.5 percent December increase. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 0.7 percent to $81.5 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up nine of the last ten months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.8 percent to $251.7 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent December increase. Petroleum and coal products, up seven consecutive months, led the increase, $1.8 billion or 3.5 percent to $52.5 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,141.2 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.6 percent December increase. Transportation equipment, down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $3.6 billion or 0.5 percent to $771.9 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, up eighteen of the last nineteen months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $408.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5 percent December increase. Transportation equipment, up two consecutive months, led the increase, $0.7 billion or 0.6 percent to $131.9 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up eight consecutive months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $263.6 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent December increase. Petroleum and coal products, up seven consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.7 billion or 1.7 percent to $42.4 billion. By stage of fabrication, January materials and supplies increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and was virtually unchanged in nondurable goods. Finished goods were virtually unchanged in durable goods and increased 0.7 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: March 6, 2018 Tuesday 10:00 AM