Orders of manufactured goods rose 0.2% in August
by September 27, 2019 12:28 pm 205 views
A robot on the floor of ABB's manufacturing plant in Fort Smith.
New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 0.2%, or by $500 million, to $250.7 billion in August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau released Friday (Sept. 27) the advance report on manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders.
The rise in new orders for manufactured durable goods followed a 2% increase in July, and the orders have risen for three consecutive months.
Excluding transportation, the orders rose 0.5%. Excluding defense, the orders fell 0.6%. Fabricated metal products rose 1.3%, or by $400 million, to $34.4 billion and led the increase, up four of the past five months.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods rose 0.1%, or by $300 million, to $254.2 billion in August, and the shipments were up three of the past four months, including a 1.2% decrease in July. Machinery rose 1.6%, or by $500 million, to $33.4 billion and drove the increase, up four of the past five months.
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods rose 0.1%, or by $700 million, to $1.16 trillion in August, and the orders have increased for two consecutive months, including a 0.1% increase in July. Fabricated metal products rose 0.7%, or by $600 million, to $87.2 billion and led the rise, up for three consecutive months.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods rose 0.3%, or by $1.3 billion, to $428.6 billion in August, and the inventories have increased in 13 of the past 14 months, including a 0.4% increase in July. Transportation equipment increased 1.2%, or by $1.7 billion, to $143.2 billion and drove the increase, up 13 of the past 14 months.
Non-defense new orders for capital goods fell 2.1%, or by $1.6 billion, to $74.4 billion in August. Shipments increased 0.2%, or by $200 million, to $74.7 billion. Unfilled orders fell 0.1%, or by $400 million, to $693.3 billion.
Inventories rose 0.9%, or by $1.8 billion, to $192.7 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods increased 15.4%, or by $1.8 billion, to $13.7 billion.
Shipments increased 0.5%, or by $100 million, to $12.7 billion. Unfilled orders rose 0.7%, or by $1 billion, to $157 billion. Inventories fell 1.2%, or by $300 million, to $23.7 billion.