Manufacturing profits fall 1% in fourth quarter
by March 18, 2019 2:16 pm 251 views
U.S. manufacturing corporations’ seasonally adjusted after-tax profits declined 1.1%, or by $1.7 billion, to $154.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But the profits rose 36.6%, or by $41.4 billion, from $113.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Seasonally adjusted sales were flat at $1.782 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter, but were up 5.5%, or by $92.9 billion, from $1.689 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Nondurable goods manufacturers’ seasonally adjusted after-tax profits fell 16.1%, or by $11.9 billion, to $62.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter. The profits also fell 15.6%, or by $11.5 billion, from $73.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. Seasonally adjusted sales were flat at $848.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter. The sales rose 3.4%, or by $28.3 billion, from $820.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.
Durable goods manufacturers’ seasonally adjusted after-tax profits increased 12.4%, or by $10.2 billion, to $92.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter. The profits increased 133.3%, or by $52.8 billion, from $39.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. Seasonally adjusted sales rose 2%, or by $18.2 billion, to $933.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter. The sales increased 7.4%, or by $64.6 billion, from $869.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017.
UNADJUSTED RESULTS
U.S. manufacturing corporations’ unadjusted after-tax profits fell 16.8%, or by $28.5 billion, to $140.8 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter. The profits rose 40.8%, or by $40.8 billion, from $100 billion in the fourth quarter of 2017. Unadjusted sales were flat at $1.789 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2018, from the previous quarter. The sales increased 5.5%, or by $93.4 billion, from $1.696 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2017.