Research >> Economics
New Orders for Durable Goods Increased 0.2%, Ex-Trans down 0.6%
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New orders for manufactured durable goods in April increased $0.3 billion or 0.2 percent to $215.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up two of the last three months, followed a 3.7 percent March decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.6 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.2 percent. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, had the largest increase, $1.3 billion or 2.1 percent to $62.2 billion. This was due to motor vehicles and parts, which increased $2.3 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up four of the last five months, increased $1.5 billion or 0.7 percent to $222.7 billion. This followed a 1.0 percent March increase. Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months, had the largest increase, $1.9 billion or 3.1 percent to $63.8 billion. This followed a 2.3 percent March increase.
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, down following twenty-seven consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.7 billion or 0.1 percent to $985.3 billion. This followed a slight March increase. Transportation equipment, down two consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $1.6 billion or 0.3 percent to $566.4 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in April, up twenty-seven of the last twenty-eight months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.3 percent to $364.1 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.4 percent March increase. Machinery, up twenty-five of the last twenty-six months, had the largest increase, $1.1 billion or 1.7 percent to $65.2 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis.
Posted: May 24, 2012 Thursday 08:30 AM