Durable Goods Orders Down 1.1% in February

Washington, DC, March 24, 2021-New orders for manufactured durable goods in February decreased $2.9 billion or 1.1% to $254.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This decrease, down following nine consecutive monthly increases, followed a 3.5% January increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.9%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 0.7%. Transportation, down following five consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $1.3 billion or 1.6% to $83.6 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, down following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $9.1 billion or 3.5% to $250.9 billion. This followed a 1.7% January increase. Transportation equipment, also down following five consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $7.0 billion or 8.2% to $78.6 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up two consecutive months, increased $8.4 billion or 0.8% to $1,082.0 billion. This followed a 0.2% January increase. Transportation equipment, up following eleven consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $5.0 billion or 0.7% to $711.1 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $2.8 billion or 0.7% to $427.3 billion. This followed a 0.3% January decrease. Transportation equipment, also up following two consecutive monthly decreases, led the increase, $0.9 billion or 0.6% to $146.6 billion.