Orders for Manufactured Goods Fell 3.3% in July

Washington, DC, September 5, 2017-New orders for manufactured goods in July, down three of the last four months, decreased $15.8 billion or 3.3% to $466.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 3.2% June increase. Shipments, up seven of the last eight months, increased $1.6 billion or 0.3% to $474.3 billion. This followed a 0.1% June increase.

Unfilled orders, down two of the last three months, decreased $3.6 billion or 0.3% to $1,131.9 billion. This followed a 1.3% June increase. The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.75, down from 6.82 in June. Inventories, up eight of the last nine months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.2% to $651.6 billion. This followed a 0.3% June increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.37, down from 1.38 in June.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in July, down three of the last four months, decreased $16.8 billion or 6.8% to $228.9 billion, virtually unchanged from the previously published decrease. This followed a 6.4% June increase. Transportation equipment, also down three of the last four months, drove the decrease, $17.6 billion or 19.2% to $74.1 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $1.0 billion or 0.4% to $237.4 billion.