Orders for Manufactured Goods Fell 4.6% in November

Washington, DC, December 22, 2016—New orders for manufactured durable goods in November decreased $11.0 billion or 4.6% to $228.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

This decrease, down following four consecutive monthly increases, followed a 4.8% October increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.5%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 6.6%.

Transportation equipment, also down following four consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $11.7 billion or 13.2% to $76.6 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. This followed a 0.1% October decrease.

Primary metals, also up two of the last three months, drove the increase, $0.3 billion or 1.7% to $18.0 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in November, down five of the last six months, decreased $2.3 billion or 0.2% to $1,126.7 billion. This followed a 0.8% October increase.

Transportation equipment, also down five of the last six months, drove the decrease, $3.6 billion or 0.5% to $769.8 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in November, up four of the last five months, increased $0.6 billion or 0.1% to $384.0 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged October decrease.

Transportation equipment, also up four of the last five months, led the increase, $0.3 billion or 0.2% to $124.1 billion.

Nondefense new orders for capital goods in November decreased $15.6 billion or 19.5% to $64.4 billion. Shipments decreased $0.9 billion or 1.2% to $70.3 billion. Unfilled orders decreased $5.9 billion or 0.8% to $697.1 billion. Inventories increased $0.5 billion or 0.3% to $170.1 billion.

Defense new orders for capital goods in November increased $3.2 billion or 29.1% to $14.3 billion. Shipments increased $0.3 billion or 2.9% to $11.0 billion. Unfilled orders increased $3.3 billion or 2.4% to $142.2 billion. Inventories decreased $0.2 billion or 1.1% to $20.9 billion.

Revised seasonally adjusted October figures for all manufacturing industries were: new orders, $469.9 billion (revised from $469.4 billion); shipments, $464.8 billion (revised from $464.7 billion); unfilled orders, $1,129.0 billion (revised from $1,128.5 billion) and total inventories, $621.3 billion (revised from $621.4 billion).