Manufactured goods orders increased nearly 3% in March

Manufacturing

by Paul Gatling ([email protected]) April 25, 2019 11:13 am 172 views 

New orders for manufactured durable goods rose 2.7%, or by $6.8 billion, to $258.5 billion in March, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The orders declined 1.1% in February and have risen in four of the past five months.

Excluding transportation, new orders rose 0.4%. Excluding defense, new order rose 2.3%. New orders of transportation equipment, which have risen in four of the past five months, drove the rise and were up 7%, or by $6.1 billion, to $93.8 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods increased 0.3%, or by $900 million, to $259.6 billion in March. The shipments have risen in four of the past five months, including a 0.3% increase in February. Shipments of transportation equipment, which had declined in the past two months, drove the increase and rose 1.1%, or by $1 billion, to $90.7 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods increased 0.3%, or by $3.2 billion, to $1.18 trillion. The orders have risen in two of the past three months and followed a 0.2% decrease in February. Unfilled orders of transportation equipment, which have risen in two of the past three months, led the rise and increased 0.4%, or by $3.1 billion, to $811.9 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in March rose 0.3%, or by $1.4 billion, to $420.5 billion in March. The inventories have risen in 26 of the past 27 months, including a 0.4% increase in February. Inventories of machinery, which have increased 15 of the past 16 months, led the rise and increased 1%, or by $700 million, to $71.6 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods increased 6.5%, or by $4.9 billion, to $80.5 billion in March. Shipments were flat at $79 billion. Unfilled orders increased 0.2%, or by $1.4 billion, to $708.2 billion. Inventories rose 0.7%, or by $1.3 billion, to $184.9 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods rose 7.4%, or by $1 billion, to $13.9 billion in March. Shipments rose 1%, or by $100 million, to $12.6 billion. Unfilled orders increased 0.9%, or by $1.4 billion, to $158.1 billion. Inventories rose 0.8%, or by $200 million, to $23.1 billion.