Durable Goods Fell 5.1% in December

Washington, DC, January 28, 2016—New orders for manufactured durable goods in December decreased $12.0 billion or 5.1% to $225.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau has announced.

This decrease, down four of the last five months, followed a 0.5% November decrease. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 1.2%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.9%.

Transportation equipment, also down four of the last five months, led the decrease, $10.1 billion or 12.4% to $71.3 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in December, down two of the last three months, decreased $5.4 billion, or 2.2%, to $235.8 billion. This followed a 0.6% November increase.

Transportation equipment, also down two of the last three months, led the decrease, $5.4 billion or 6.7% to $75.1 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in December, down following two consecutive monthly increases, decreased $5.6 billion or 0.5% to $1,187.6 billion. This followed a 0.1% November increase.

Transportation equipment, also down following two consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $3.8 billion or 0.5% to $795.2 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in December, up following five consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.1 billion, or 0.5%, to $397.9 billion. This followed a 0.2% November decrease.

Transportation, up following three consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $1.8 billion or 1.4% to $131.8 billion.