Manufactured goods orders increased 0.6% in October

by Jeff Della Rosa ([email protected]) 545 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 rose 0.6%, or by $1.5 billion, to $248.7 billion in October after declining 1.4% in September, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau on Wednesday (Nov. 27) announced the advance report on manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders for October.

New orders for manufactured durable goods have increased in four of the past five months. Excluding transportation, the orders rose 0.6%. Excluding defense, the orders rose 0.1%. Fabricated metal products have increased in two of the past three months and rose 1.8%, or by $600 million, to $34.1 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods rose by less than $100 million to $251.6 billion in October. The rise follows three consecutive months of decreases, including a 0.7% decline in September. Machinery shipments rose 1%, or by $300 million, to $33.1 billion. Machinery shipments have risen in two of the past three months.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods increased 0.1%, or by $1.4 billion, to $1.16 trillion in October. The orders were flat in September. Transportation equipment rose 0.1%, or by $900 million, to $795.5 billion in October. Unfilled orders for transportation equipment have risen for four consecutive months.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods rose 0.3%, or by $1.4 billion, to $432 billion in October. The inventories have risen in 15 of the past 16 months, including a 0.5% increase in September. Transportation equipment rose 1.3%, or by $1.8 billion, to $147.4 billion. Inventories of transportation equipment have also increased in 15 of the past 16 months.

Non-defense new orders for capital goods rose 3.2%, or by $2.2 billion, to $73.3 billion in October. Shipments increased 1.4%, or by $1 billion, to $75.1 billion.

Unfilled orders declined 0.3%, or by $1.8 billion, to $688.2 billion. Inventories rose 0.7%, or by $1.4 billion, to $195.8 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods rose 16.6%, or by $2.3 billion, to $16.2 billion. Shipments increased 1.2%, or by $200 million, to $13 billion. Unfilled orders rose 2%, or by $3.2 billion, to $161.4 billion. Inventories rose 1.5%, or by $400 million, to $24.3 billion.