Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.4% in May
|
New orders for manufactured goods in May, up three of the last four months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $498.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.4 percent April decrease. Shipments, up twelve of the last thirteen months, increased $2.8 billion or 0.6 percent to $496.1 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent April increase. Unfilled orders, up six of the last seven months, increased $6.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,160.8 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent April increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.68, down from 6.73 in April. Inventories, up nineteen consecutive months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $668.4 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent April increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from April.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $249.2 billion, up from the previously published 0.6 percent decrease. This followed a 1.0 percent April decrease. Transportation equipment, also down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $0.9 billion or 1.1 percent to $86.1 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.7 billion or 1.1 percent to $249.0 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in May, up nine of the last ten months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $247.1 billion, up from the previously published 0.1 percent decrease. This followed a virtually unchanged April decrease. Machinery, up three of the last four months, drove the increase, $0.2 billion or 0.7 percent to $32.4 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $2.7 billion or 1.1 percent to $249.0 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent April increase. Petroleum and coal products, up ten of the last eleven months, led the increase, $1.8 billion or 3.4 percent to $55.5 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up six of the last seven months, increased $6.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $1,160.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.6 percent April increase. Transportation equipment, also up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $3.9 billion or 0.5 percent to $800.2 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in May, up eighteen of the last nineteen months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.3 percent to $403.3 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.4 percent April increase. Transportation equipment, up five of the last six months, led the increase, $0.5 billion or 0.4 percent to $129.0 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up eleven consecutive months, increased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $265.1 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent April increase. Chemical products, up seven of the last eight months, drove the increase, $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $87.9 billion. By stage of fabrication, May materials and supplies increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.1 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.3 percent in durable goods and was virtually unchanged in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.1 percent in both durable goods and nondurable goods.
Posted: July 3, 2018 Tuesday 10:00 AM