Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.2% in August
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New orders for manufactured goods in August, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.4 billion or 0.1 percent to $499.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.4 percent July increase. Shipments, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.7 billion or 0.1 percent to $503.0 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent July decrease. Unfilled orders, up two consecutive months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,162.9 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent July increase. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.66, down from 6.67 in July. Inventories, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.3 billion or virtually unchanged to $695.9 billion. This followed a 0.1 percent July increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.38, unchanged from July.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up three consecutive months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.2 percent to $250.7 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 2.1 percent July increase. Fabricated metal products, up four of the last five months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion or 1.2 percent to $34.3 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $249.0 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $253.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 1.2 percent July decrease. Machinery, up four of the last five months, drove the increase, $0.5 billion or 1.6 percent to $33.4 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $249.0 billion. This followed a 0.7 percent July increase. Petroleum and coal products, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $1.9 billion or 3.6 percent to $51.0 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two consecutive months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $1,162.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.1 percent July increase. Fabricated metal products, up three consecutive months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 0.7 percent to $87.2 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up thirteen of the last fourteen months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $428.3 billion, down from the previously published 0.3 percent increase. This followed a 0.4 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, also up thirteen of the last fourteen months, drove the increase, $1.7 billion or 1.2 percent to $143.2 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down five consecutive months, decreased $1.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $267.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent July decrease. Petroleum and coal products, down four consecutive months, led the decrease, $0.9 billion or 2.3 percent to $39.1 billion. By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies decreased 0.2 percent in durable goods and increased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.6 percent in durable goods and decreased 1.6 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.3 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.6 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: October 3, 2019 Thursday 10:00 AM