New orders for manufactured goods increased 0.2% to $594.3 billion in December, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This followed a 2.6% November increase.
New orders for manufactured durable goods in December, down two of the last three months, decreased less than $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $295.4 billion, down from the previous published virtually unchanged increase. Transportation equipment, also down two of the last three months, drove the decrease, down 0.9% to $106.8 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased 0.4% to $298.9 billion. Excluding transportation, new orders for manufactured goods increased 0.4% for the month.
Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, down three of the last four months, decreased 0.3% to $282.1 billion, unchanged from the previously published decrease. Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased 0.4% to $298.9 billion.
Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up five consecutive months, increased 0.4% to $526.9 billion, unchanged from the previously published increase.
Read the Census release.
