New Orders for Durable Goods Tick Up

By MDM Staff

October 28, 2009

More about: Economy

Machinery leads the increase in new orders for September.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in September increased $1.6 billion or 1% to $165.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This was the second increase in the last three months. This followed a 2.6% August decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.9%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.5%.

Machinery, up five of the last six months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or 7.9% to $23.4 billion.

Shipments

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in September, up three of the last four months, increased $1.3 billion or 0.8% to $172.6 billion. This followed a 1.4% August decrease.

Transportation equipment, also up three of the last four months, had the largest increase, $2.4 billion or 5.6% to $44.9 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which increased $1.4 billion.

Unfilled Orders

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in September, down 12 consecutive months, decreased $3.3 billion or 0.4% to $733.6 billion. This was the longest streak of consecutive monthly decreases since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.4% August decrease.

Transportation equipment, down eleven of the last 12 months, had the largest decrease, $4.8 billion or 1.1% to $426.3 billion.

Inventories

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in September, down nine consecutive months, decreased $3.1 billion or 1% to $305.0 billion. This followed a 1.5% August decrease.

Transportation equipment, down two consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $2 billion or 2.2% to $89.1 billion.

Capital Goods

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in September increased $1.3 billion or 2.5% to $53.6 billion. Shipments increased $1.2 billion or 2.2% to $56.6 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $3 billion or 0.7% to $419.6 billion. Inventories decreased $2.3 billion or 1.7% to $132.4 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in September increased $1 billion or 10% to $10.9 billion. Shipments increased $0.5 billion or 5.1% to $11.3 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.4 billion or 0.3% to $140.3 billion. Inventories decreased $0.4 billion or 1.8% to $19.8 billion.

For more details on new orders for September, download the pdf below.

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