Research >> Economics
New Orders for Durable Goods Increased 3.0%, Ex-Trans up 2.1%
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New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $6.2 billion or 3.0 percent to $214.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This increase, up five of the last six months, followed a 4.3 percent November increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 3.5 percent. Transportation equipment, up two consecutive months, had the largest increase, $3.0 billion or 5.5 percent to $58.4 billion. This was due to nondefense aircraft and parts, which increased $3.1 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up two of the last three months, increased $4.3 billion or 2.1 percent to $207.3 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent November decrease. Primary metals, up seventeen of the last eighteen months, had the largest increase, $2.2 billion or 8.2 percent to $29.0 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 5.0 percent November increase.
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up twenty of the last twenty one months, increased $13.1 billion or 1.5 percent to $912.3 billion. This followed a 1.4 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, up eleven of the last twelve months, had the largest increase, $10.6 billion or 2.1 percent to $529.7 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up twenty four consecutive months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.3 percent to $370.1 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis and followed a 0.6 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, also up twenty four consecutive months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or 1.5 percent to $116.4 billion.
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in December increased $4.6 billion or 5.8 percent to $84.4 billion. Shipments increased $1.8 billion or 2.6 percent to $71.5 billion. Unfilled orders increased $12.9 billion or 2.4 percent to $545.6 billion. Inventories increased $1.0 billion or 0.6 percent to $170.6 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods in December decreased $0.8 billion or 12.4 percent to $5.3 billion. Shipments increased $0.6 billion or 8.9 percent to $7.6 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $2.2 billion or 1.5 percent to $149.0 billion. Inventories decreased $0.6 billion or 2.7 percent to $20.0 billion.
Revised seasonally adjusted November figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $461.2 billion (revised from $459.2 billion); shipments, $455.9 billion (revised from $455.0 billion); unfilled orders, $899.2 billion (revised from $898.3 billion); and total inventories, $609.9 billion (revised from $609.8 billion).
Posted: January 26, 2012 Thursday 08:30 AM