New orders for manufactured goods in August, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.4 billion or 0.1% to $499.8 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This followed a 1.4% July increase. Shipments, down two consecutive months, decreased $0.7 billion or 0.1% to $503 billion. This followed a 0.3% July decrease. Unfilled orders, up two consecutive months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.1% to $1,162.9 billion. This followed a 0.1% July increase. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.66, down from 6.67 in July. Inventories, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.3 billion or virtually unchanged to $695.9 billion. This followed a 0.1% July increase. The inventories‐to‐shipments ratio was 1.38, unchanged from July. 

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up three consecutive months, increased $0.4 billion or 0.2% to $250.7 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 2.1% July increase. Fabricated metal products, up four of the last five months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion or 1.2% to $34.3 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $0.8 billion or 0.3% to $249 billion. 

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $0.1 billion or 0.1% to $253.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 1.2% July decrease. Machinery, up four of the last five months, drove the increase, $0.5 billion or 1.6% to $33.4 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.3% to $249 billion. This followed a 0.7% July increase. Petroleum and coal products, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $1.9 billion or 3.6% to $51 billion. 

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up thirteen of the last fourteen months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.2% to $428.3 billion, down from the previously published 0.3% increase. This followed a 0.4% July increase. Transportation equipment, also up thirteen of the last fourteen months, drove the increase, $1.7 billion or 1.2% to $143.2 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, down five consecutive months, decreased $1.4 billion or 0.5% to $267.6 billion. This followed a 0.2% July decrease. Petroleum and coal products, down four consecutive months, led the decrease, $0.9 billion or 2.3% to $39.1 billion. By stage of fabrication, August materials and supplies decreased 0.2% in durable goods and increased 0.2% in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.6% in durable goods and decreased 1.6% in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.3% in durable goods and decreased 0.6% in nondurable goods.