Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.6% in March
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New orders for manufactured goods in March, up seven of the last eight months, increased $7.8 billion or 1.6 percent to $507.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.6 percent February increase. Shipments, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.4 percent to $502.8 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent February increase. Unfilled orders, up six of the last seven months, increased $9.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $1,153.8 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent February increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.52, up from 6.51 in February. Inventories, up sixteen of the last seventeen months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.3 percent to $677.3 billion. This followed a 0.4 percent February increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from February.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up four of the last five months, increased $6.5 billion or 2.6 percent to $255.2 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 3.6 percent February increase. Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months, led the increase, $6.4 billion or 7.6 percent to $91.4 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $252.4 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in March, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $0.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $250.4 billion, up from the previously published 0.3 percent increase. This followed a 0.8 percent February increase. Transportation equipment, up four of the last five months, drove the increase, $1.5 billion or 1.8 percent to $83.5 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up nine of the last ten months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $252.4 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent February decrease. Petroleum and coal products, up eight of the last nine months, led the increase, $0.8 billion or 1.5 percent to $51.7 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in March, up six of the last seven months, increased $9.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $1,153.8 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.3 percent February increase. Transportation equipment, up three of the last four months, led the increase, $7.9 billion or 1.0 percent to $782.8 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March, up twenty of the last twenty-one months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.1 percent to $411.5 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.5 percent February increase. Machinery, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.5 percent to $71.0 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up ten consecutive months, increased $1.2 billion or 0.5 percent to $265.8 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent February increase. Petroleum and coal products, up nine consecutive months, led the increase, $0.8 billion or 1.9 percent to $43.7 billion. By stage of fabrication, March materials and supplies increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and increased 0.2 percent nondurable goods. Work in process decreased 0.4 percent in durable goods and increased 2.0 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and were virtually unchanged in nondurable goods.
Posted: May 3, 2018 Thursday 10:00 AM