Orders for Durable Goods Down 1.6% in February

Washington, DC, April 2, 2019-New orders for manufactured durable goods in February decreased $4.2 billion or 1.6% to $250.6 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

This decrease, down following three consecutive monthly increases, followed a 0.1% January increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.1%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 1.9%. Transportation equipment, also down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $4.3 billion or 4.8% to $86.0 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, up three of the last four months, increased $0.5 billion or 0.2% to $258.6 billion. This followed a 0.4% January decrease. Computers and electronic products, up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.1% to $28.0 billion.