Durable Goods Orders Virtually Unchanged in August

Washington, DC, September 28, 2016—New orders for manufactured durable goods in August decreased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $226.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

This decrease, down three of the last four months, followed a 3.6% July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.0%.

Electrical equipment, appliances, and components, down following two consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.2 billion or 2.5% to $9.6 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.8 billion or 0.4% to $231.7 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged July increase.

Transportation equipment, down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $0.9 billion or 1.1% to $79.9 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, down three consecutive months, decreased $1.5 billion or 0.1% to $1,123.4 billion. This followed a 0.2% July decrease.

Transportation equipment, also down three consecutive months, drove the decrease, $1.8 billion or 0.2% to $769.2 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, up two consecutive months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.1% to $383.7 billion. This followed a 0.4% July increase.

Machinery, up two of the last three months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.5% to $65.7 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in August decreased $3.1 billion or 4.4% to $66.9 billion. Shipments decreased $1.4 billion or 1.9% to $70.1 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $3.1 billion or 0.4% to $696.3 billion. Inventories increased $0.3 billion or 0.2% to $169.7 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in August increased $2.3 billion or 23.6% to $11.9 billion. Shipments decreased $0.2 billion or 2.3% to $10.3 billion. Unfilled orders increased $1.5 billion or 1.1% to $137.2 billion. Inventories decreased $0.4 billion or 2.0% to $20.7 billion.