Orders for Manufactured Goods Inched Down 0.5% in January

Washington, DC, March 5, 2020-New orders for manufactured goods in January, down two of the last three months, decreased $2.3 billion or 0.5% to $497.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.9% December increase. Shipments, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.3 billion or 0.5% to $501.8 billion. This followed a 0.5% December increase.

Unfilled orders, up three of the last four months, increased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $1,157.0 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged December increase. The unfilled orders‐to‐shipments ratio was 6.63, down from 6.65 in December. Inventories, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.1% to $703.4 billion. This followed a 0.4% December increase. The inventories‐ to‐shipments ratio was 1.40, unchanged from December.