New orders for manufactured goods increased 1.9 percent to $460.5 billion in April, following a 1.7 percent March increase, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This was the third increase in the last four months.
New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 3.4 percent to $236.2 billion, following a 2.0 percent March increase. Orders for transportation equipment led the increase, rising 8.7 percent to $86.9 billion.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods increased 0.5 percent to $232.5 billion after falling in the previous two months. Transportation equipment led the increase, rising 1.1 percent to $80.8 billion. Excluding transportation, shipments increased 0.4 percent during the month, compared to a 0.9 percent increase in March.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods, down nine of the last ten months, fell 0.1 percent to $384.5 billion, following a 0.2 percent decrease in March.
Read the Census release.
