Research >> Economics
New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.2% in January
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New orders for manufactured goods in January, up six of the last seven months, increased $5.5 billion or 1.2 percent to $470.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. This followed a 1.3 percent December increase. Shipments, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $1.1 billion or 0.2 percent to $478.3 billion. This followed a 2.5 percent December increase. Unfilled orders, down seven of the last eight months, decreased $4.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $1,114.1 billion. This followed a 0.8 percent December decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.57, down from 6.59 in December. Inventories, up six of the last seven months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.2 percent to $627.9 billion. This followed a 0.3 percent December increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.31, unchanged from December.
New Orders
New orders for manufactured durable goods in January, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $4.5 billion or 2.0 percent to $230.7 billion, up from the previously published 1.8 percent increase. This followed a 0.9 percent December decrease. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $4.5 billion or 6.2 percent to $76.5 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $239.5 billion.
Shipments
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in January, up four of the last five months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $238.8 billion, up from the previously published 0.1 percent decrease. This followed a 1.7 percent December increase. Fabricated metal products, up six of the last seven months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion or 1.3 percent to $31.4 billion. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up ten of the last eleven months, increased $1.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $239.5 billion. This followed a 3.4 percent December increase. Petroleum and coal products, up five of the last six months, drove the increase, $1.1 billion or 2.4 percent to $45.3 billion.
Unfilled Orders
Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down seven of the last eight months, decreased $4.0 billion or 0.4 percent to $1,114.1 billion, virtually unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 0.8 percent December decrease. Transportation equipment, also down seven of the last eight months, drove the decrease, $5.4 billion or 0.7 percent to $753.1 billion.
Inventories
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in January, up two of the last three months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1 percent to $384.1 billion, up from the previously published virtually unchanged increase. This followed a 0.1 percent December decrease. Computers and electronic products, up three of the last four months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.9 percent to $42.9 billion. Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up five of the last six months, increased $0.8 billion or 0.3 percent to $243.8 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent December increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up five of the last six months, drove the increase, $0.8 billion or 2.8 percent to $30.3 billion. By stage of fabrication, January materials and supplies increased 0.4 percent in durable goods and decreased 0.2 percent in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.1 percent in durable goods and 0.5 percent in nondurable goods. Finished goods decreased 0.4 percent in durable goods and increased 0.6 percent in nondurable goods.
Posted: March 6, 2017 Monday 10:00 AM