Durable Goods Orders Down 2.2% in February

Washington, DC, March 24, 2022-New orders for manufactured durable goods in February decreased $6.0 billion or 2.2% to $271.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This decrease, down following four consecutive monthly increases, followed a 1.6% January increase. Excluding transportation, new orders decreased 0.6%. Excluding defense, new orders decreased 2.7%. Transportation equipment, down following three consecutive monthly increases, led the decrease, $4.9 billion or 5.6% to $82.6 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in February, down following five consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $270.6 billion. This followed a 1.3% January increase. Machinery, down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $0.5 billion or 1.4% to $38.5 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up thirteen consecutive months, increased $5.3 billion or 0.4% to $1,288.4 billion. This followed a 0.9% January increase. Transportation equipment, up twelve of the last thirteen months, led the increase, $4.9 billion or 0.6% to $853.4 billion.

Inventories of manufactured durable goods in February, up thirteen consecutive months, increased $2.0 billion or 0.4% to $478.5 billion. This followed a 0.5% January increase. Machinery, up sixteen consecutive months, led the increase, $0.8 billion or 1.0% to $80.5 billion.