Orders for Manufactured Goods Fell 1.4% in January

Washington, DC, March 6, 2018-New orders for manufactured goods in January, down following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $6.9 billion or 1.4% to $491.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 1.8% December increase.

Shipments, up thirteen of the last fourteen months, increased $2.8 billion or 0.6% to $498.8 billion. This followed a 0.7% December increase.

Unfilled orders, down following four consecutive monthly increases, decreased $2.9 billion or 0.3% to $1,141.2 billion. This followed a 0.6% December increase.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.54, down from 6.58 in December.

Inventories, up fourteen of the last fifteen months, increased $2.1 billion or 0.3% to $672.4 billion. This followed a 0.7% December increase.

The inventories-to- shipments ratio was 1.35, unchanged from December.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $9.0 billion or 3.6% to $240.0 billion, up from the previously published 3.7% decrease. This followed a 2.7% December increase. Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $8.6 billion or 10.0% to $77.9 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $2.1 billion or 0.8% to $251.7 billion.