New orders for American-made goods posted a modest increase during August after two straight monthly declines, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released Nov. 19. 

Data showed that total orders for U.S. factory goods improved 1.4% month-to-month during August, in line with economists’ expectations. Orders fell 1.3% in July and sank 4.8% in June. 

Year-over-year, August orders rose 3.3%.

August U.S. Construction Spending Unexpectedly Rebounds (Nov. 18)

The Bureau report was initially due on Oct. 2 but was significantly delayed by the 43-day U.S. government shutdown that ended on Nov. 12. A backlog of official government data has since been slowly released.

August U.S. manufactured goods orders: Month-Over-Month

Monthly shipments ticked down 0.1% in August after a 0.9% rise in July, while unfilled orders increased 0.6% (flat in July). August’s unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio of 6.93 rose from July’s 6.86. Inventories were virtually unchanged in August after a 0.2% July increase, while the inventories-to-shipments ratio of 1.56 was likewise flat.

Durable Goods

New orders for U.S. durable goods increased 2.9% during August following a 2.8% slide in July. Transportation equipment led the gain with a 7.9% rise after two consecutive decreases. 

August U.S. manufactured durable goods orders: Month-over-Month

August shipments of durable goods fell 0.2% (-1.5% in July). Transportation led the decline with a 0.2% slide after four straight months of increases.

August unfilled orders for durable goods increased 0.6% month-to-month after a flat July. Transportation led the gain with a 0.9% rise.

August inventories of durable goods were virtually unchanged with a slight increase after a 0.3% July increase, marking 11 straight months of gains. Primary metals drove the growth with a 0.7% August gain.

Here’s how the seasonally-adjusted value of manufacturers’ orders changed during August for certain durable goods categories:

• Electrical equipment, appliances & components: -0.3% (+0.9% in July)
• Fabricated metal products: -0.4% (+1.5% in July)
• Farm machinery: +0.8% (+1.0% in July)
• Industrial machinery: -0.6% (+3.4% in July)
• Metalworking machinery: +0.3% (+2.7% in July)
• Mining, oilfield & gas field machinery: +0.8% (+0.8% in July)
• Construction machinery: +3.4% (+3.2% in July)
• HVACR equipment: -0.6% (-1.0% in July)
• Turbines, generators & other power transmission equipment: -3.5% (+0.6% in July)
• Material handling equipment: -3.6% (-+4.3% in July)
• Computers & electronics: +0.1% (+0.2% in July)

Nondurable Goods

New orders for nondurable goods dipped 0.1% in August. Shipments fell 0.1% after three straight increases (+0.3% in July). Petroleum and coal drove the decrease with a 1.1% slide after two consecutive monthly increases. Inventories ticked up 0.1% for a third straight gain (+0.1% in July), also led by petroleum and coal’s 0.3% August rise.