Manufactured goods orders increased 2.4% in December
by January 28, 2020 10:02 am 174 views
New orders for manufactured durable goods rose 2.4%, or by $5.7 billion, to $245.5 billion in December, from November, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Census Bureau on Tuesday (Jan. 28) announced the advance report on durable goods manufacturers’ shipments, inventories and orders for December.
The rise in new orders for manufactured durable goods in December followed a 3.1% decrease in November, and the orders have risen in two of the past three months. Excluding transportation, new orders fell 0.1%. Excluding defense, new orders declined 2.5%. Transportation equipment rose 7.6%, or by $5.9 billion, to $82.9 billion, and the increase follows three consecutive months of decreases.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods fell 0.2%, or by $500 million, to $250.4 billion in December, and the shipments have fallen over the past six months, including a 0.1% decrease in November. Transportation equipment declined 0.4%, or by $400 million, to $83.2 billion and has been down over the past six months.
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods declined 0.1%, or by $800 million, to $1.16 trillion in December, and the unfilled orders have fallen in three of the past four months, including a 0.6% decrease in November. Machinery fell 0.5%, or by $500 million, to $101.6 billion and has declined for 14 consecutive months.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods rose 0.5%, or by $2.2 billion, to $436 billion in December and have increased in 17 of the past 18 months, including a 0.4% increase in November. Transportation equipment rose 1.2%, or by $1.7 billion, to $151.2 billion and has been up in 17 of the past 18 months.
Nondefense new orders for capital goods fell 6.5%, or by $4.5 billion, to $64.5 billion in December. Shipments rose 0.5%, or by $400 million, to $74.8 billion. Unfilled orders declined 1.5%, or by $10.3 billion, to $671.6 billion. Inventories rose 1.1%, or by $2.2 billion, to $199.2 billion. Defense new orders for capital goods increased 90.2%, or by $9.1 billion, to $19.2 billion. Shipments fell 2.5%, or by $300 million, to $12.4 billion. Unfilled orders rose 4.3%, or by $6.8 billion, to $165 billion. Inventories fell 1.3%, or by $300 million, to $24 billion.