Durable Goods Orders Rose 0.4% in August

Washington, DC, September 25, 2020-New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $1.0 billion or 0.4% to $232.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. This increase, up four consecutive months, followed an 11.7% July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.7%. Machinery, also up four consecutive months, led the increase, $0.5 billion or 1.5% to $31.2 billion.

Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased $0.7 billion or 0.3 %to $244.1 billion. This followed a 7.6% July increase. Transportation equipment, also down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, $1.4 billion or 1.7% to $81.6 billion.

Unfilled orders for manufactured durable goods in August, down five of the last six months, decreased $6.3 billion or 0.6% to $1,078.4 billion. This followed a 0.7% July decrease. Transportation equipment, down six consecutive months, drove the decrease, $6.9 billion or 0.9% to $728.0 billion.