New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased 18.2 percent to $245.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down following two consecutive monthly increases, followed a 22.5 percent July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.7 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 19 percent.
Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, 42 percent to $76.8 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased 1.5 percent to $246.1 billion. This followed a 3.7 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, 5.1 percent to $72.5 billion.
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up sixteen of the last seventeen months, increased 0.6 percent to $1,165 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 5.3 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, up eleven of the last twelve months, led the increase, 0.6 percent to $742.1 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up sixteen of the last seventeen months, increased 0.4 percent to $403 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first published on a NAICS basis and followed a 0.4 percent July increase. Transportation equipment, also up sixteen of the last seventeen months, led the increase, 0.4 percent to $129.9 billion.
