Manufacturing profits rose 7.2% in first quarter, from previous period

U.S manufacturing companies’ seasonally adjusted after-tax profits rose 7.2%, or by $11 billion, to $164.2 billion in the first quarter of 2019, from $153.2 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The profits increased by 4.7%, or by $7.3 billion, from $156.9 billion in the first quarter of 2018.

The Census Bureau on Wednesday (June 5) announced seasonally adjusted after-tax profits and sales for manufacturing industries for the first quarter of 2019.

The manufacturing companies’ seasonally adjusted sales fell 2.8%, or by $49.8 billion, to $1.73 trillion in the first quarter, from $1.77 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2018. The sales were flat from the first quarter of 2018.

Nondurable goods manufacturers’ seasonally adjusted after-tax profits rose 15.1%, or by $9.3 billion, to $70.8 billion in the first quarter, from $61.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. The profits fell 6.1%, or by $4.6 billion, from $75.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Seasonally adjusted sales declined 4.4%, or by $37 billion, to $808.4 billion in the first quarter, from $845.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. The sales fell 1.9%, from $824.4 billion in the first quarter of 2018.

Durable goods manufacturers’ seasonally adjusted after-tax profits rose 1.9%, or by $1.7 billion, to $93.4 billion in the first quarter, from $91.7 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. The profits increased by 14.6%, or by $11.9 billion, from $81.5 billion in the first quarter of 2018. Seasonally adjusted sales fell 1.4%, or by $12.8 billion, to $916.6 billion, from $929.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2018. The sales rose 0.9%, or by $8.2 billion, from $889.1 billion in the first quarter of 2018.