Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 4.4% in August
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Summary
New orders for manufactured goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $11.5 billion or 2.3 percent to $510.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 0.5 percent July decrease. Shipments, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $2.3 billion or 0.5 percent to $504.0 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged July increase. Unfilled orders, up nine of the last ten months, increased $10.4 billion or 0.9 percent to $1,176.5 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent July increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.68, down from 6.72 in July. Inventories, down following twentyone consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $675.6 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent July increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.34, down from 1.35 in July.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $11.0 billion or 4.4 percent to $259.6 billion, down from the previously published 4.5 percent increase. This followed a 1.2 percent July decrease. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, drove the increase, $11.1 billion or 13.1 percent to $95.4 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $250.9 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $1.8 billion or 0.7 percent to $253.1 billion, down from the previously published 0.8 percent increase. This followed a 0.1 percent July decrease. Transportation equipment, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $1.7 billion or 2.0 percent to $86.2 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.2 percent to $250.9 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent July increase. Chemical products, up three of the last four months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.4 percent to $65.4 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up nine of the last ten months, increased $10.4 billion or 0.9 percent to $1,176.5 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.1 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, up six of the last seven months, led the increase, $9.2 billion or 1.2 percent to $811.0 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, down following nineteen consecutive monthly increases, decreased $1.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $407.2 billion, up from the previously published 0.4 decrease. This followed a 1.3 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, down two of the last three months, drove the decrease, $1.8 billion or 1.4 percent to $129.4 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up fourteen consecutive months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $268.4 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent July increase. Petroleum and coal products, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.5 billion or 1.1 percent to $42.7 billion. By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies increased 0.3 percent in durable goods and increased 0.4 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 1.1 percent in durable goods and increased 0.3 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods were virtually unchanged in durable goods and increased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: October 4, 2018 Thursday 10:00 AM