Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 1.2% in February 2021
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Summary
New orders for manufactured goods in February, down following nine consecutive monthly increases, decreased $4.1 billion or 0.8 percent to $505.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 2.7 percent January increase. Shipments, also down following nine consecutive monthly increases, decreased $10.3 billion or 2.0 percent to $502.4 billion. This followed a 1.8 percent January increase. Unfilled orders, up two consecutive months, increased $8.5 billion or 0.8 percent to $1,082.3 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent January increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.29, up from 6.11 in January. Inventories, up six of the last seven months, increased $5.5 billion or 0.8 percent to $702.4 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent January increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.40, up from 1.36 in January.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in February, down following nine consecutive monthly increases, decreased $3.2 billion or 1.2 percent to $254.1 billion, down from the previously published 1.1 percent decrease. This followed a 3.6 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, down following five consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $1.5 billion or 1.8 percent to $83.4 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $0.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $251.6 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, down following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $9.4 billion or 3.6 percent to $250.8 billion, down from the previously published 3.5 percent decrease. This followed a 1.8 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, also down following five consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $7.1 billion or 8.3 percent to $78.5 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down following nine consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.9 billion or 0.4 percent to $251.6 billion. This followed a 1.8 percent January increase. Chemical products, also down following nine consceutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $0.8 billion or 1.1 percent to $71.1 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up two consecutive months, increased $8.5 billion or 0.8 percent to $1,082.3 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.2 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, up following eleven consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $5.0 billion or 0.7 percent to $711.1 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.8 billion or 0.7 percent to $427.3 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.3 percent January decrease. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 0.6 percent to $146.6 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up six of the last seven months, increased $2.7 billion or 1.0 percent to $275.1 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent January increase. Petroleum and coal products, up four consecutive months, led the increase, $1.9 billion or 5.3 percent to $37.4 billion. By stage of fabrication, February materials and supplies increased 1.4 percent in durable goods and 1.2 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 1.7 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.5 percent in durable goods and 0.6 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: April 5, 2021 Monday 10:00 AM