Orders for Manufactured Goods Rose 2.3% in August

Washington, DC, October 4, 2018-New orders for manufactured goods in August, up three of the last four months, increased $11.5 billion or 2.3% to $510.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

This followed a 0.5% July decrease.

Shipments, up fifteen of the last sixteen months, increased $2.3 billion or 0.5% to $504.0 billion. This followed a virtually unchanged July increase.

Unfilled orders, up nine of the last ten months, increased $10.4 billion or 0.9% to $1,176.5 billion. This followed a 0.1% July increase.

The unfilled orders-to-shipments ratio was 6.68, down from 6.72 in July. Inventories, down following twenty-one consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.5 billion or 0.1% to $675.6 billion.

This followed a 0.9% July increase. The inventories-to-shipments ratio was 1.34, down from 1.35 in July.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August, up two of the last three months, increased $11.0 billion or 4.4% to $259.6 billion, down from the previously published 4.5% increase. This followed a 1.2% July decrease. Transportation equipment, also up two of the last three months, drove the increase, $11.1 billion or 13.1% to $95.4 billion. New orders for manufactured nondurable goods increased $0.6 billion or 0.2% to $250.9 billion.