Orders for Manufactured Goods Rose 2.7% in October

Washington, DC, December 6, 2016—New orders for manufactured goods in October, up four consecutive months, increased $12.5 billion or 2.7% to $469.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported.

This followed a 0.6% September increase.

Shipments, up seven of the last eight months, increased $1.7 billion or 0.4% to $464.7 billion. This followed a 0.9% September increase.

Unfilled orders, up following four consecutive monthly decreases, increased $8.2 billion or 0.7% to $1,128.5 billion. This followed a 0.2% September decrease. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.78, up from 6.70 in September.

Inventories, up three of the last four months, increased $0.3 billion or virtually unchanged to $621.4 billion. This followed a 0.1% September decrease. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.34, unchanged from September.