Orders for Manufactured Goods Fell 2.4% in November

Washington, DC, January 6, 2017—New orders for manufactured goods in November, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $11.3 billion or 2.4% to $458.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported.

This followed a 2.8% October increase.

Shipments, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.3 billion or 0.1% to $463.8 billion. This followed a 0.2% October increase.

Unfilled orders, down five of the last six months, decreased $1.7 billion or 0.1% to $1,127.8 billion. This followed a 0.8% October increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.78, down from 6.79 in October.

Inventories, up four of the last five months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.2% to $623.1 billion. This followed a 0.1% October increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.34, unchanged from October.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in November, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $10.8 billion or 4.5% to $228.8 billion, up from the previously published 4.6% decrease. This followed a 5.0% October increase.

Transportation equipment, also down following four consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $11.6 billion or 13.2% to $76.7 billion.

New orders for manufactured nondurable goods decreased $0.5 billion or 0.2% to $229.6 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in November, up two of the last three months, increased $0.2 billion or 0.1% to $234.2 billion, virtually unchanged from the previously published increase. This followed a 0.2% October decrease.

Primary metals, also up two of the last three months, drove the increase, $0.4 billion or 2.0% to $18.1 billion.

Shipments of manufactured nondurable goods, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.2% to $229.6 billion. This followed a 0.6% October increase. Petroleum and coal products, also down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.7 billion or 1.7% to $38.3 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in November, down five of the last six months, decreased $1.7 billion or 0.1% to $1,127.8 billion, up from the previously published 0.2% decrease. This followed a 0.8% October increase.

Transportation equipment, also down five of the last six months, drove the decrease, $3.4 billion or 0.4% to $770.0 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in November, up four of the last five months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.2% to $384.1 billion, up from the previously published 0.1% increase. This followed a 0.1% October decrease.

Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.4 billion or 0.3% to $124.2 billion.

Inventories of manufactured nondurable goods, up three of the last four months, increased $0.7 billion or 0.3% to $239.0 billion. This followed a 0.3% October increase. Petroleum and coal products, also up three of the last four months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.4% to $25.9 billion.

By stage of fabrication, November materials and supplies decreased 0.2% in durable goods and increased 0.4% in nondurable goods. Work in process increased 0.3% in durable goods and increased 0.4% in nondurable goods. Finished goods increased 0.4% in durable goods and increased 0.2% in nondurable goods.