New orders for manufactured goods declined 1.1% in September

New orders for manufactured durable goods fell 1.1%, or by $2.8 billion, to $248.2 billion in September, from August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau announced Thursday (Oct. 24) the advance report on manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders in September.

New orders for manufactured durable goods fell in September after three consecutive monthly increases, including a 0.3% rise in August. Excluding transportation, new orders fell 0.3%. Excluding defense, new orders declined 1.2%. Transportation equipment fell 2.7%, or by $2.3 billion, to $84.5 billion and was down after three consecutive monthly increases.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods fell 0.4%, or by $1 billion, to $252.5 billion in September and have been down for three consecutive months, including a 0.1% decrease in August. Transportation equipment fell 1.2%, or by $1 billion, to $84.6 billion and has also been down for three consecutive months.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods fell less than $100 million to $1.16 trillion in September and were down after two consecutive monthly increases, including a 0.2% rise in August. Fabricated metal products fell 0.1%, or by $100 million, to $87 billion and were down following three consecutive monthly increases.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods rose 0.5%, or by $2.1 billion, to $430.3 billion in September and have been up in 14 of the past 15 months, including a 0.2% increase in August. Transportation equipment rose 1.4%, or by $2.1 billion, to $145.3 billion, and it was up in 14 of the past 15 months.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods fell 2.8%, or by $2.1 billion, to $71.6 billion in September. Shipments fell 0.1%, or by $100 million, to $74.2 billion. Unfilled orders decreased 0.4%, or by $2.6 billion, to $690.4 billion. Inventories rose 0.9%, or by $1.8 billion, to $194.5 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods declined 4.5%, or by $600 million, to $13.2 billion. Shipments rose 1.4%, or by $200 million, to $12.8 billion. Unfilled orders increased 0.2%, or by $400 million, to $157.5 billion. Inventories increased 1%, or by $200 million, to $24 billion.