Manufactured goods orders rose 1.9% in September

New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 1.9%, or by $4.3 billion, to $237.1 billion in September, from August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau announced Tuesday (Oct. 27) the advance report on durable goods manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders for September.

New orders have risen for five consecutive months, including an increase of 0.4% in August. Excluding transportation, the orders rose by 0.8%. Excluding defense, the orders increased by 3.4%. Transportation equipment has increased in four of the past five months and contributed the most to the September rise, increasing by 4.1%, or $3 billion, to $76.8 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods rose 0.3%, or by $700 million, to $245 billion in September. The shipments have risen in four of the past five months and included a 0.3% decrease in August. Transportation equipment has also risen in four of the past five months and contributed the most to the September increase, rising by 0.5%, or $400 million, to $82 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods fell 0.2%, or by $2.6 billion, to $1.07 trillion in September. The unfilled orders have fallen in six of the past seven months, including a 0.6% decrease in August. Transportation equipment has been down for seven consecutive months and contributed the most to the September decline, falling 0.7%, or by $5.2 billion, to $722 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods rose 0.4%, or by $1.6 billion, to $422.1 billion in September. The inventories had fallen for three consecutive months, including a 0.1% decrease in August. Transportation equipment has risen in 24 of the past 25 months and contributed the most to the September rise, increasing by 0.7%, or by $1 billion, to $147.9 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods rose 10.4%, or by $6.6 billion, to $69.7 billion in September. Shipments rose less than 0.1%, or by $100 million, to $70.2 billion. Unfilled orders declined 0.1%, or by $400 million, to $593.5 billion. Inventories rose 0.4%, or by $700 million, to $193.8 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods declined 22.3%, or by $3 billion, to $10.3 billion. Shipments fell 0.7%, or by $100 million, to $12.1 billion. Unfilled orders fell 1%, or by $1.8 billion, to $179.5 billion. Inventories rose 1.2%, or by $300 million, to $21.5 billion.