New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $5 billion or 2.2 percent to $229.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced in its advance report on durable goods.
This increase, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, followed a 1.3 percent January decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.1 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 1.8 percent. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $4.6 billion or 6.9 percent to $71.4 billion. This was led by nondefense aircraft and parts, which increased $1.8 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2 billion or 0.9 percent to $234 billion. This followed a 0.6 percent January decrease. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 1.3 percent to $68.6 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up twelve of the last thirteen months, increased $2.9 billion or 0.3 percent to $1,062.6 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992, and followed a slight January increase. Transportation equipment, up five of the last six months, led the increase, $2.8 billion or 0.4 percent to $659.6 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up 10 of the last 11 months, increased $3.2 billion or 0.8 percent to $392.3 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis, and followed a 0.3 percent January increase. Transportation equipment, up 21 of the last 22 months, led the increase, $1.9 billion or 1.5 percent to $125.0 billion.
Capital Goods
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in February decreased $2.2 billion or 2.8 percent to $75.1 billion.
Shipments increased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $74.8 billion. Unfilled orders increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $644.4 billion. Inventories increased $1.1 billion or 0.6 percent to $178.1 billion.
Defense new orders for capital goods in February increased $0.9 billion or 13.5 percent to $8.0 billion. Shipments decreased $0.2 billion or 1.7 percent to $9.5 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $1.5 billion or 0.9 percent to $156.6 billion. Inventories increased $0.9 billion or 4 percent to $23.6 billion.
Revised December Data
Revised seasonally adjusted January figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $482 billion (revised from $483 billion); shipments, $489.6 billion (revised from $490.7 billion); unfilled orders, $1,059.7 billion (revised from $1,059.9 billion); and total inventories $637.9 billion (revised from $637.7 billion).
For more detail, download the PDF below.
