Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 3.9%
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New orders for manufactured goods in December, down five consecutive months, decreased $14.8 billion or 3.9 percent to $362.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 6.5 percent November decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 4.4 percent.
Shipments, also down five consecutive months, decreased $11.3 billion or 2.9 percent to $377.6 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since March-July 1998 and followed a 6.5 percent November decrease. Unfilled orders, down three consecutive months, decreased $11.0 billion or 1.4 percent to $801.9 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent November decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.82, down from 5.87 in November.
Inventories, down four consecutive months, decreased $8.0 billion or 1.4 percent to $544.3 billion. This was the largest percent decrease since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.5 percent November decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.44, up from 1.42 in November.
Posted: February 5, 2009 Thursday 10:00 AM