Manufactured goods orders declined 1.3% in May

ManufacturingNews Briefs

by Jeff Della Rosa ([email protected]) June 26, 2019 12:31 pm 444 views 

A Rockwell Automation employee displays one of the company’s robotic control systems that can be used in the manufacturing process.

New orders for manufactured durable goods fell 1.3%, or by $3.3 billion, to $243.4 billion in May, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau announced Wednesday (June 26) the May advance report on manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders.

New orders for manufactured durable goods have fallen in three of the past four months, and the orders declined 2.8% in April. New orders, excluding transportation, rose 0.3%. New orders, excluding defense, declined 0.6%. Transportation equipment orders have declined in three of the past four months and drove the decrease, falling 4.6%, or by $3.9 billion, to $80 billion in May.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods rose 0.4%, or by $900 million, to $254.1 billion. The shipments fell over the past two months, including a 1.6% decrease in April. Machinery led the rise and has been up in four of the past five months, rising 1.1%, or by $400 million, to $33.4 billion in May.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 0.5%, or by $6.4 billion, to $1.17 trillion. The orders have fallen in three of the past four months, including a 0.2% decrease in April. Transportation equipment led the decrease and has been down in three of the past four months, falling 0.7%, or by $5.8 billion, to $803.6 billion in May.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods have risen in 10 of the past 11 months and increased 0.5%, or by $2.1 billion, to $424.6 billion in May. The rise followed a 0.4% increase in April. Transportation equipment, which has been up in 10 of the past 11 months, drove the increase, rising 1.6%, or by $2.1 billion, to $138.4 billion in May.

Other stats include:

  • Nondefense new orders for capital goods fell 2.3%, or by $1.7 billion, to $70.8 billion.
  • Shipments rose 0.5%, or by $300 million, to $76.1 billion.
  • Unfilled orders declined 0.8%, or by $5.3 billion, to $698.7 billion.
  • Inventories rose 1%, or by $1.9 billion, to $188.1 billion.
  • Defense new orders for capital goods declined 7.8%, or by $1.2 billion, to $13.9 billion.
  • Shipments increased 0.5%, or by $100 million, to $13 billion.
  • Unfilled orders rose 0.5%, or by $900 million, to $160.3 billion.
  • Inventories increased 0.4%, or by $100 million, to $23.5 billion.