New orders for manufactured durable goods in December increased $11.2 billion or 5.2 percent to $226.6 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This was the second consecutive monthly increase and followed a 0.5 percent November increase.
Excluding transportation, new orders increased 2.6 percent. Excluding defense, new orders increased 2.9 percent.
Full Release
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, down four of the last five months, decreased $0.1 billion or 0.1 percent to $212.6 billion. This followed a 0.2 percent November decrease.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, up thirty-one of the last thirty-two months, increased $20.0 billion or 2.5 percent to $808.6 billion. This was at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 1.2 percent November increase.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up five of the last six months, increased $3.5 billion or 1.1 percent to $320.7 billion. This was also at the highest level since the series was first stated on a NAICS basis in 1992 and followed a 0.8 percent November increase.
Capital Goods Industries
Nondefense
Nondefense new orders for capital goods in December increased $4.2 billion or 5.4 percent to $81.1 billion.
Defense
Defense new orders for capital goods in December increased $5.2 billion or 80.6 percent to $11.6 billion.