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New orders for manufactured goods decreased 1.9%
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New orders for manufactured goods in January, down six consecutive months, decreased $6.9 billion or 1.9 percent to $351.9 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 4.9 percent December decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.9 percent.
Shipments, also down six consecutive months, decreased $6.6 billion or 1.7 percent to $369.4 billion. This also was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 3.3 percent December decrease.
Unfilled orders, down four consecutive months, decreased $13.5 billion or 1.7 percent to $786.8 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since September 2002-January 2003 and was the largest percent decrease in unfilled orders since June 2002. This followed a 1.5 percent December decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 5.97, up from 5.85 in December.
Inventories, down five consecutive months, decreased $4.4 billion or 0.8 percent to $537.6 billion. This also was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since March 2003-January 2004 and followed a 1.9 percent December decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.46, up from 1.44 in December.
Posted: March 5, 2009 Thursday 10:00 AM