Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.8% in April
|
Summary
New orders for manufactured goods in April, down two of the last three months, decreased $4.0 billion or 0.8 percent to $499.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.3 percent March increase. Shipments, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.7 billion or 0.5 percent to $504.1 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent March increase. Unfilled orders, down two of the last three months, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,179.3 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent March increase. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.69, up from 6.61 in March. Inventories, up seven of the last eight months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $692.9 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent March increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.37, up from 1.36 in March.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down two of the last three months, decreased $5.2 billion or 2.1 percent to $248.6 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 1.7 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, also down two of the last three months, drove the decrease, $5.3 billion or 5.9 percent to $85.5 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $250.7 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, down three of the last four months, decreased $3.9 billion or 1.5 percent to $253.4 billion, up from the previously published 1.6 percent decrease. This followed a 0.5 percent March decrease. Transportation equipment, down four consecutive months, led the decrease, $3.7 billion or 4.1 percent to $85.9 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up three consecutive months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $250.7 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent March increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up three consecutive months, led the increase, $1.1 billion or 2.0 percent to $56.2 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down two of the last three months, decreased $0.6 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,179.3 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.1 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, also down two of the last three months, led the decrease, $0.4 billion or virtually unchanged to $810.7 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up nine of the last ten months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.4 percent to $422.4 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.3 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, also up nine of the last ten months, led the increase, $1.5 billion or 1.1 percent to $136.1 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up four consecutive months, increased $0.2 billion or 0.1 percent to $270.5 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent March increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up four consecutive months, drove the increase, $0.5 billion or 1.3 percent to $42.2 billion. By stage of fabrication, April materials and supplies increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.9 percent in durable goods and was virtually unchanged in nondurable goods. Finished goods were virtually unchanged in durable goods and increased 0.3 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: June 4, 2019 Tuesday 10:00 AM