Latest Durable Goods News From Shipments Inventories Capital Goods

New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $5.0 billion or 2.5 percent to $191.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today. This decrease, down four of the last five months, followed a 0.1 percent November decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5 percent. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.5 percent.

Transportation equipment, also down four of the last five months, had the largest decrease, $5.8 billion or 12.8 percent to $39.2 billion. This was due to non defense aircraft and parts, which decreased $5.0 Billion. Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, up three of the last four months, increased $2.8 billion or 1.4 percent to $200.4 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent November increase.

Machinery, up four of the last five months, had the largest increase, $1.7 billion or 6.7 percent to $27.1 billion. Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, down following eight consecutive monthly increases, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.4 percent to $822.8 billion. This followed a 0.5 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, down two consecutive months, had the largest decrease, $8.7 billion or 1.8 percent to $473.6 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up twelve consecutive months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.7 percent to $322.0 billion. This followed a 0.9 percent November increase. Transportation equipment, also up twelve consecutive months, had the largest increase, $1.6 billion or 1.9 percent to $86.3 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in December decreased $4.2 billion or 6.3 percent to $61.4 billion. Shipments increased $1.8 billion or 2.8 percent to $67.1 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $5.7 billion or 1.1 percent to $498.8 billion. Inventories increased $1.2 billion or 0.9 percent to $136.9 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in December decreased $0.3 billion or 3.6 percent to $8.4 billion. Shipments increased $0.1 billion or 1.5 percent to $8.9 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $0.4 billion or 0.3 percent to $139.0 billion. Inventories decreased $0.1 billion or 0.8 percent to $17.6 billion.

Revised seasonally adjusted November figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $424.5 billion (revised from $423.8 billion); shipments, $426.0 billion (revised from $424.5 billion); unfilled orders, $826.4 billion (revised from $826.9 billion); and total inventories, $544.6 billion (revised from $543.8 billion).