Durable Goods Orders Down 1.3% in April

Washington, DC, May 27, 2021-New orders for manufactured durable goods in April decreased $3.2 billion or 1.3% to $246.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This decrease, down following eleven consecutive monthly increases, followed a 1.3% March increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 1.0%. Excluding defense, new orders were virtually unchanged. Transportation equipment, down two consecutive months, drove the decrease, $4.9 billion or 6.7% to $68.9 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in April, up eleven of the last twelve months, increased $1.4 billion or 0.6% to $248.7 billion. This followed a 2.7% March increase. Primary metals, also up eleven of the last twelve months, led the increase, $0.6 billion or 2.7% to $21.6 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in April, up three consecutive months, increased $1.9 billion or 0.2% to $1,197.0 billion. This followed a 0.5% March increase. Fabricated metal products, up eleven consecutive months, drove the increase, $3.1 billion or 3.4% to $95.9 billion.